Tropical Cyclone Chido: A Rare and Devastating Event in Mayotte
Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with unprecedented wind speeds surpassing 200 km/h, making it the strongest storm in 90 years. Accompanying torrential rains resulted in severe destruction and significant loss of life, despite early warnings from Météo-France. The cyclone later traveled to Mozambique, highlighting the unpredictable nature of weather events in a changing climate.
On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mayotte, delivering winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour and gusts surpassing 225 kilometers per hour, marking it as one of the most potent storms to affect the region in nearly a century, according to Météo-France. The cyclone unleashed torrential rains, totaling 176 millimeters within 12 hours, and produced dangerous sea conditions with wave heights averaging over 5 meters. The magnitude of the storm was so severe that it compromised some of Météo-France’s observational facilities.
In response to this disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a national day of mourning, while a significant emergency and relief initiative was enacted due to grave initial reports suggesting that hundreds of residents on the small island may have perished. This calamity struck a region ill-equipped to handle such intense tropical cyclones, particularly affecting many informal housing structures prevalent on the island.
Notably, despite precise and timely alerts from Météo-France—beginning with an amber alert 50 hours prior to landfall—there was an alarming toll of fatalities. Warnings escalated from amber to red and eventually to a rarely issued violet alert within the 48-hour timeframe leading up to the cyclone’s impact. Chido exhibited an atypical trajectory, bypassing Madagascar, which might have otherwise diminished its intensity, ultimately making a direct impact on Mayotte and subsequently moving on to Mozambique on December 15, where it continued to bring heavy rain to both Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France remarked on the obscure implications of climate change in this event. They stated: “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte. This is an extremely rare event not seen for 90 years. Our current state of knowledge doesn’t allow us to draw any conclusions about the role of climate change on the track of the cyclone and on its intensity.” The regional meteorological center had previously anticipated an early onset of the cyclone season in their seasonal forecast issued on October 31, predicting 9 to 13 systems, with several reaching tropical cyclone status.
Tropical cyclones are severe storm systems characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall, posing significant risks to regions they impact, particularly islands like Mayotte which have limited infrastructure to withstand such events. The region has not encountered a cyclone of Chido’s magnitude in decades, highlighting the increasing unpredictability of tropical storm patterns, potentially influenced by climate change. Accurate forecasting by agencies such as Météo-France plays a crucial role in disaster preparedness, but the effectiveness of warnings can vary depending on local circumstances and the readiness of the population to respond to such alerts.
In conclusion, Tropical Cyclone Chido’s impact on Mayotte serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of regions to extreme weather events, especially given the potential consequences of climate change. The swift response measures by government and meteorological agencies are commendable, but the high loss of life reflects the challenges faced in disaster preparedness in locales with informal housing and limited resilience. Although the cyclone’s effects were aggravated by its direct trajectory on Mayotte, the broader context of climate-related weather patterns warrants rigorous examination as the climate crisis progresses.
Original Source: wmo.int
