Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, becoming the strongest storm to hit the island in over 90 years, with winds exceeding 200 km/h. Despite timely warnings, the cyclone resulted in a significant loss of life due to the island’s unpreparedness for such an event. Chido’s unusual path may have hindered any potential weakening, and its impact has sparked discussions about the relationship between climate change and tropical cyclones. The 2024-2025 cyclone season is expected to be active, necessitating heightened preparedness.
On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mayotte, reaching wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour and gusts surpassing 225 kilometers per hour. This cyclone is notably the most powerful to strike Mayotte in over 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. Alongside the ferocious winds, the island experienced torrential rainfall, amounting to 176 mm within a mere 12 hours, and dangerous sea conditions with waves averaging more than 5 meters in height. The cyclone’s intensity resulted in the destruction of some of Météo-France’s observational infrastructure.
In response to the devastation, French President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed a national day of mourning. Early estimates indicated that hundreds of individuals may have perished on this island, which lacks resilience against such powerful storms and has numerous informal housing structures. Despite timely warnings issued by Météo-France more than 50 hours before the cyclone struck, the loss of life was significant. An amber alert was announced on December 13 at 7 a.m. local time, followed by a red alert that evening, and upgraded to a seldom-used violet alert on the morning of December 14.
Chido deviated from typical cyclone paths, largely bypassing Madagascar, which may have otherwise diminished its strength. Instead, it directly impacted Mayotte as an intense tropical cyclone, enveloping the island entirely with its eye. Following its assault on Mayotte, Chido continued to travel, making landfall over Mozambique on December 15, where it brought heavy rainfall to both Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France has stated that the influence of climate change on this event remains unclear, emphasizing that the significant impacts were primarily attributable to Chido’s trajectory and its direct hit on Mayotte. “Our current state of knowledge does not allow us to draw any conclusions about the role of climate change on the track of the cyclone and on its intensity,” the agency indicated.
The cyclone season in the South-West Indian Ocean is closely monitored by Météo-France, which serves as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for this region. The seasonal forecast for 2024-2025 was released on October 31 and suggested the impending cyclone season would witness a normal to above-normal level of activity. Historically, previous seasons had not seen significant storm activity until January. The forecast anticipates that the cyclone activity may begin earlier than usual, with predictions of 9 to 13 systems, of which 4 to 7 could escalate to tropical cyclone status. The extraordinary impact of Cyclone Chido, occurring just before the anticipated cyclone season, raises concerns about the preparedness and resilience of affected areas such as Mayotte. Cyclone Chido’s path generated a discussion regarding the frequency and intensity of cyclonic events in relation to climatic changes, highlighting the importance of ongoing research in this field.
In conclusion, the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Chido in Mayotte on December 14 has underscored the vulnerabilities of regions unaccustomed to severe tropical systems. The event led to significant loss of life and damage, despite timely warnings issued by meteorological authorities. Furthermore, the cyclone’s unusual path and intensity have sparked discussions about the implications of climate change in meteorological phenomena, indicating a need for further research to understand and enhance preparedness for future events. The upcoming cyclone season is predicted to feature above-normal activity, raising additional concerns regarding the safety and resilience of the communities in affected regions.
Original Source: wmo.int
