Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, registering unprecedented wind speeds and heavy rainfall. This intense storm claimed lives and damaged structures, leading to a national state of mourning in France. Météo-France provided early warnings, but the cyclone’s strength overwhelmed the island. The event highlights the vulnerabilities of regions unaccustomed to extreme tropical systems, raising concerns about the influence of climate change on future weather patterns and the need for effective disaster management.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, reaching wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h. This cyclone was noted as the strongest to hit Mayotte in at least 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. The storm brought heavy rainfall, totaling 176 mm within just 12 hours, accompanied by dangerously high waves averaging over 5 meters. The cyclone’s ferocity even caused damage to Météo-France’s observational infrastructure.
In response to the disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a day of national mourning. A substantial emergency relief operation was initiated amidst fears that hundreds of residents might have lost their lives, particularly affecting the informal housing prevalent on the island. Such devastation was a stark reality for Mayotte, which is not accustomed to such intense tropical cyclones, despite timely warnings issued over 50 hours before landfall.
The cyclone’s unusual trajectory saw it bypass Madagascar, which may have otherwise weakened its intensity, allowing Chido to strike Mayotte with full force. The storm fully engulfed the island, leading it to subsequently make landfall in Mozambique on December 15, where it continued to bring heavy rainfall to both Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France indicated that the influence of climate change on the cyclone’s characteristics remains unclear. “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte,” they stated on their website. They emphasized the rarity of such occurrences, which had not been observed for 90 years, while acknowledging limitations in current knowledge regarding climate change’s role in cyclone behavior.
The impact of tropical cyclones has become increasingly significant in recent years, with climate change potentially influencing their frequency and intensity. Tropical cyclone Chido serves as a critical case study due to its unprecedented strength and the destruction it caused on Mayotte, an island not typically exposed to such severe storms. Météo-France, as the authoritative meteorological body, provided early warnings and ongoing assessments which reveal the complexities tied to understanding these natural phenomena in the context of current environmental changes. This particular cyclone season’s predictions had indicated a probability of heightened storm activity in the South-West Indian Ocean, which raises concerns for areas like Mayotte, known for its vulnerability. Given that the region had not seen a cyclone of this magnitude in nine decades, the event underscores the need for enhanced disaster preparedness and research into the evolving patterns of tropical weather systems.
In conclusion, tropical cyclone Chido has revealed significant vulnerabilities in Mayotte’s infrastructure and preparedness for such extreme weather events. With wind speeds surpassing 200 km/h and torrential rain, the storm caused extensive damage and loss of life, despite advance warnings. The event is a reminder of the growing impacts of tropical cyclones, potentially influenced by climate change. Future seasonal forecasts suggest increasing cyclone activity, necessitating ongoing vigilance and improved response strategies.
Original Source: wmo.int
