Devastation of Mayotte by Tropical Cyclone Chido: A Historic Storm
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, becoming the most powerful storm in 90 years, with winds over 200 km/h and significant rainfall. Despite timely alerts, fatalities occurred due to vulnerable housing conditions. Following its impact on Mayotte, Chido made landfall in Mozambique, highlighting the critical importance of cyclone preparedness in the region, along with ongoing discussions about climate change’s role in cyclone intensity.
Tropical cyclone Chido made landfall on Mayotte on December 14, producing wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h. This event is noted as the strongest storm to impact Mayotte in the past 90 years, according to Météo-France. The cyclone was characterized by extreme rainfall, with an astonishing 176 mm recorded within just 12 hours, alongside dangerous wave heights exceeding 5 meters. Notably, the cyclone’s force was so substantial that it damaged Météo-France’s observational infrastructure.
In response to the devastation, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national day of mourning. An extensive emergency relief operation was activated due to alarming reports of substantial casualties in Mayotte, an island that typically does not experience such powerful tropical cyclones. Many residences on the island are informal structures, increasing their vulnerability to severe weather conditions.
Despite Météo-France’s timely alerts, which began over 50 hours before the cyclone’s landfall, there was a tragic loss of life. An amber alert was initially issued on December 13, followed by a red alert on the same day, and finally upgraded to a rare violet alert on December 14.
Chido followed an atypical route, avoiding the larger island of Madagascar, which could have potentially reduced its strength. Upon making landfall in Mayotte, the cyclone fully enveloped the island with its eye and later struck Mozambique on December 15, leading to heavy rain in both Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France indicated uncertainty regarding the influence of climate change on the cyclone’s behavior. They noted, “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 Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) based in La Réunion had predicted an early start to the 2024-2025 cyclone season in their seasonal forecast released on October 31, anticipating near normal to above normal activity with 9 to 13 systems, and 4 to 7 of these potentially reaching tropical cyclone status.
In conclusion, tropical cyclone Chido’s unprecedented impact on Mayotte highlights the need for enhanced preparedness and infrastructure resilience against extreme weather events. Météo-France’s timely warnings underscored the importance of accurate forecasting, even in the face of rare and powerful storms. As climate change continues to evolve, ongoing investigation into its potential effects on cyclone behavior is essential for future monitoring and disaster response strategies.
Original Source: wmo.int
