Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with winds exceeding 200 km/h, leading to severe devastation and loss of life. Despite timely warnings from Météo-France, the storm caused significant destruction due to the island’s lack of preparedness for such intense cyclones. Chido subsequently impacted Mozambique, bringing heavy rainfall after its landfall.
On December 14, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte with unprecedented force, recording wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour and gusts surpassing 225 kilometers per hour. This cyclone is noted as the strongest to have impacted Mayotte in the past 90 years, according to reports from Météo-France. Accompanying the powerful winds were torrential rains, accumulating to 176 millimeters within a span of 12 hours, and perilous seas characterized by wave heights averaging over five meters. The cyclone’s intensity led to the destruction of some of Météo-France’s observational structures.
The event prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to declare a period of national mourning as hundreds of lives were feared lost on the island, known for its vulnerability due to numerous informal housing conditions. Tragically, despite Météo-France providing accurate warnings well in advance—issuing an amber alert over 50 hours beforehand, followed by a red alert and subsequently a violet alert—the death toll was substantial.
Cyclone Chido took a rare trajectory, ostensibly avoiding the larger island of Madagascar, which may have weakened the storm system. Instead, it made a direct hit on Mayotte as an intense tropical cyclone, enveloping the island entirely. After striking Mayotte, Chido continued its path, making landfall in Mozambique on December 15, followed by a reduction in strength and contributing to heavy rainfall across Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France noted that the specific influence of climate change on this cyclone’s behavior remains ambiguous. In their assessment, the agency stated, “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.”
Furthermore, Météo-France La Réunion functions as the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for tropical cyclones within the South-West Indian Ocean. In their earlier forecast for the cyclone season issued on October 31, predictions indicated a potential for near-normal to above-normal cyclone activity for the 2024-2025 season, with estimates of 9 to 13 systems, including four to seven likely to reach tropical cyclone strength.
Tropical cyclones pose significant threats to island regions such as Mayotte, where local infrastructure and housing often are ill-prepared for such extreme weather events. The occurrence of Cyclone Chido reflects a historical pattern of cyclonic impact in the Indian Ocean, particularly as tropical storms intensify due to climatic changes. Organizations like Météo-France play crucial roles in monitoring and providing warnings for these natural disasters, helping to mitigate loss of life when possible. Understanding the trends in cyclonic activity and their correlation to climate change is an ongoing area of research in meteorology, particularly for vulnerable regions like Mayotte.
Tropical Cyclone Chido, marking a rare and severe event, has brought devastating impacts to Mayotte, highlighting the island’s vulnerability to intense storms and the challenges of informal housing during natural disasters. The timely warnings offered, though seemingly effective, could not prevent the tragic loss of life. The cyclone serves as a reminder of the need for enhanced preparedness and understanding the implications of climate change on such extreme weather conditions. As communities rebuild, the lessons learned from this event will be crucial in addressing future vulnerabilities.
Original Source: wmo.int
