Tropical Cyclone Chido Strikes Mayotte: A Historic Devastation
Tropical cyclone Chido severely impacted Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with winds of over 200 km/h. The storm led to substantial loss of life despite early warnings and resulted in national mourning declared by President Macron. The cyclone’s unusual path and intensity raised questions about the influence of climate change. Météo-France forecasts an active upcoming cyclone season in the region.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, producing winds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts over 225 km/h, marking the most severe storm to impact the island in approximately 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. Accompanying this devastation were torrential rains that recorded 176 mm in just 12 hours, coupled with hazardous seas characterized by waves averaging over 5 meters in height. The cyclone’s intensity was such that it damaged Météo-France’s observational facilities.
In response to the catastrophic event, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a national period of mourning. A massive emergency operation was initiated amidst harrowing reports indicating potential losses of life numbering in the hundreds. The small island, which is not accustomed to such powerful tropical storms, suffers significant losses, particularly due to the prevalence of informal housing structures.
Despite receiving timely warnings from Météo-France more than 50 hours before the cyclone’s arrival, the island experienced severe casualties. An amber alert was issued on December 13, escalated to a red alert the same evening, and finally promoted to a rare violet alert the following morning, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Chido’s track was unusual as it avoided the larger island of Madagascar, a factor that may have otherwise diminished its strength. The storm impacted Mayotte as an intense tropical cyclone, completely enveloping the island’s area. Chido subsequently made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, where it weakened but continued to deliver heavy rainfall to both Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France acknowledged the complexity in assessing the influence of climate change on the cyclone’s path and intensity. The agency noted, “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 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 Météo-France La Réunion operates as the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Their seasonal forecast for the region, released on October 31, effectively anticipated an early commencement of the cyclone season for 2024-2025, predicting 9 to 13 systems, with four to seven likely reaching tropical cyclone status.
The upcoming cyclone season in the Southwest Indian Ocean is expected to show near normal to above normal activity. This forecast indicates that cyclonic activity may begin earlier than in previous seasons, possibly even before the end of 2024.
The article discusses the impact of Tropical cyclone Chido on Mayotte, detailing its unprecedented strength and the storm’s aftermath. It describes the cyclone’s wind speeds, accompanying rains, and damage caused, along with the historical context surrounding such extraordinary weather events. It further emphasizes the emergency response initiated by French authorities and the ongoing assessments by Météo-France regarding the role of climate change in this and future cyclone occurrences.
Tropical cyclone Chido has been a devastating event for Mayotte, being the strongest storm in decades. Despite early warnings, the island faced immense loss of life and destruction due to its vulnerable housing infrastructure. The incident underscores the need for ongoing research into climate change’s effects on cyclonic weather patterns as the region prepares for a potentially active cyclone season in the coming years.
Original Source: wmo.int
