Cyclone Chido has devastated Mayotte, leading to 22 fatalities and significant infrastructure damage. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such storms, as evidenced by rising sea temperatures. Southeast Africa suffers from poor weather forecasting capabilities, exacerbating the impact of these disasters. The UN aims to improve access to early warning systems in response to these challenges.
The Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte is currently grappling with the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, marking it as the most severe storm to strike the French territory in nearly a century. Since making landfall on Saturday, this cyclone has claimed at least 22 lives, obliterating entire communities, causing significant infrastructural damage, and uprooting numerous trees. Climate experts have been increasingly concerned that cyclones in this region are intensifying in both frequency and severity due to anthropogenic climate change.
Cyclone season over southeast Africa typically transpires from December to March, coinciding with the highest ocean temperatures of the year, essential for tropical storm formation. Historically, devastating storms such as Cyclone Freddy in 2023 and Idai in 2019 have left significant destruction across regions including Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, particularly during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months. It is noteworthy that while cyclones are referred to as hurricanes in other areas, they are called cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australia.
Human-induced climate change has notably elevated global temperatures by approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, which is critical because cyclones require warm water—at least 27 degrees Celsius—to develop. Cyclone Chido drew energy from sea surface temperatures nearly reaching 29 degrees Celsius, potentially leading to more intense storms characterized by high winds, heavy rainfall, and severe storm surges. Recent studies indicate that climate change has exacerbated cyclone impacts on southeast Africa, although the precise extent remains unclear due to limited weather data.
The African continent, in general, suffers from a lack of advanced weather tracking systems, with only 37 radar facilities available for forecasting compared to Europe’s 347. This shortfall leads to insufficient preparedness for extreme weather events, resulting in higher death tolls when cyclones strike. For instance, the devastating Cyclone Idai in 2019 resulted in over 1,000 fatalities. To address this, the United Nations initiated a project aimed at ensuring that every individual globally has access to early weather warning systems within five years. In this context, Celeste Saulo, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, emphasized the importance of improving forecast access to effectively adapt to climate change.
The article discusses the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte, along with the increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones in southeastern Africa attributed to human-induced climate change. Contextualizing the cyclone season which spans from December to March, the article highlights how rising sea temperatures, as a result of climate change, fuel such storms. It also touches on the overarching issue of inadequate weather forecasting and data that exacerbates the impact of these natural disasters in Africa.
In summary, Cyclone Chido has underscored the profound vulnerabilities of Mayotte and surrounding regions to climate-induced natural disasters. The increased severity and frequency of cyclones due to climate change, compounded by poorly developed weather forecasting infrastructure, pose significant risks to lives and property. Future initiatives, such as the UN’s project for universal early warning access, are vital in mitigating the devastating impacts of such storms in vulnerable regions.
Original Source: www.seattletimes.com
