Cyclone Chido pummeled Mayotte on December 14, 2024, with devastating 225 km/h winds. It was the strongest storm to hit the islands in over 90 years, causing extensive damage, especially in Mamoudzou. Chido originated on December 5, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane, and later impacted Mozambique. The storm’s intensity and resulting destruction underline the increasing severity of cyclones amid climate change.
On December 14, 2024, Cyclone Chido unleashed catastrophic damage across the islands of Mayotte, making it the most powerful storm to strike the region in over nine decades. This cyclone originated in the southeastern Indian Ocean and rapidly intensified, affecting the Mauritian islands before reaching the French territory. With peak winds of 250 kilometers per hour classified as a Category 4 hurricane, Chido devastated structures, uprooted trees, and damaged essential infrastructure such as electrical systems and homes. Reports reveal extensive destruction in Mamoudzou, the capital of Mayotte, and on the neighboring island of Pamandzi.
Cyclone Chido developed on December 5 and intensified significantly before hitting the Agaléga islands on December 11. Following its peak on December 12, it continued to move through conducive atmospheric conditions, reaching warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear, which aided its strength. After passing just north of Madagascar, Chido made landfall on Mayotte early on December 14 with winds exceeding 225 kilometers per hour, leading to severe destruction that the European Union assessed extensively.
After wreaking havoc in Mayotte, Chido proceeded westward to affect Mozambique on December 15. Throughout its path, the cyclone sustained winds equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, marking it as a significant atmospheric event. The assessments following the cyclone indicated widespread damage, particularly in areas that had not encountered such a severe storm in many decades.
Cyclone Chido, an intense tropical cyclone, emerged as a significant meteorological event in December 2024. Originating from the southeastern Indian Ocean, it rapidly developed into a major storm impacting coastal territories. The cyclone’s interaction with conducive environmental factors, such as warm ocean temperatures and low vertical wind shear, facilitated its strengthening. Notably, its landfall on Mayotte represents a historical weather phenomenon, as the island had not encountered such power in over 90 years, implicating broader implications for climate change and weather patterns in the region.
In summary, Cyclone Chido’s landfall in Mayotte on December 14, 2024, marked a historic meteorological event that caused unprecedented destruction. The cyclone’s rapid intensification and sustained hurricane-force winds resulted in significant infrastructural damage, particularly in populated areas. This event emphasizes the need for enhanced preparedness and response strategies in the face of increasingly powerful storms due to changing climatic conditions.
Original Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov
