On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido hit Mayotte with wind speeds over 200 km/h, causing significant destruction and loss of life. Despite early warnings issued by Météo-France, the storm proved fatal, highlighting Mayotte’s vulnerability to extreme tropical cyclones.
On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte with devastating force, producing wind speeds surpassing 200 km/h and gusts exceeding 225 km/h, marking it as the most intense storm to impact the island in approximately 90 years, according to Météo-France. The cyclone generated torrential rainfall with totals reaching 176 mm within a 12-hour period and generated significant wave heights of over 5 meters. As a result of this cyclone, even Météo-France’s own observational infrastructure suffered damage due to the storm’s ferocity.
In response to the calamity, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national day of mourning, while a large-scale emergency and relief operation was initiated. Initial reports indicated that hundreds of individuals may have perished in this unprecedented disaster, particularly alarming for an island that is not accustomed to such powerful tropical cyclones and where many inhabitants reside in informal housing.
Despite Météo-France issuing timely warnings, predicting the cyclone over 50 hours ahead, including an amber alert on December 13 and escalating to a rare violet alert the following morning, there was still significant loss of life. Notably, Chido’s trajectory was atypical, bypassing Madagascar, which may have otherwise diminished its strength. Instead, it struck Mayotte directly, resulting in a severe and unprecedented impact on the island’s population.
Following its landfall in Mayotte, Cyclone Chido proceeded to make landfall in Mozambique on December 15, causing further heavy rainfall in both Mozambique and Malawi. Météo-France emphasized the rarity of such occurrences and stated, “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte.” On the complex issue of climate change’s role in the cyclone’s behavior, Météo-France indicated a lack of definitive conclusions: “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.”
Looking ahead, Météo-France’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) La Réunion projected that the 2024-2025 cyclone season in the South-West Indian Ocean might witness normal to above-normal cyclonic activity, forecasting between nine to thirteen systems, with four to seven potentially reaching tropical cyclone status. This indicates a shift from the previous three seasons, where the first systems did not occur until January.
Tropical Cyclone Chido serves as a significant reminder of the potential devastation that extreme weather events can inflict, particularly on regions that are not typically exposed to such intensity. Mayotte, an island located in the Indian Ocean, is characterized by its vulnerability to natural disasters, compounded by the prevalence of informal housing. The cyclone’s unusual path, which circumvented Madagascar, highlights the complex dynamics of tropical cyclones and their potential for unpredictability. With ongoing discussions regarding the impacts of climate change on weather patterns, understanding these phenomena remains crucial as regions prepare for future cyclone seasons.
In summary, Cyclone Chido represents an extraordinary meteorological event that has profoundly affected Mayotte, underscoring significant vulnerabilities in the region. The response from both local authorities and the French government indicates a commitment to addressing the immediate humanitarian consequences, while longer-term considerations regarding the implications of climate change and future cyclone seasons remain critical. The distinction of Chido as a cyclone of unprecedented strength for the island reaffirms the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness.
Original Source: wmo.int
