Tropical Cyclone Chido’s Unprecedented Impact on Mayotte
Tropical cyclone Chido devastated Mayotte on December 14 with winds over 200 km/h, causing severe destruction and loss of life, despite early warnings. The cyclone was the strongest to hit Mayotte in 90 years. Following its impact, Chido moved to Mozambique, bringing further rainfall. Météo-France indicated the storm’s intensity and trajectory were unusual but did not explicitly correlate it to climate change.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck the island of Mayotte on December 14, bringing with it devastating winds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h, marking it as the most powerful storm to impact the island in at least 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. The cyclone unleashed torrential rains, accumulating 176 mm in just 12 hours, alongside dangerous sea conditions with average wave heights exceeding 5 meters. The cyclone’s intensity was so significant that it destroyed some of Météo-France’s observational structures.
In response to the disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national mourning period and initiated a large-scale emergency and relief effort. Initial assessments indicate that hundreds of residents may have perished, particularly affecting the island’s informal housing sectors, which were ill-equipped to withstand such extreme weather phenomena. Notably, despite Météo-France issuing timely warnings more than 50 hours in advance—including an amber alert on December 13 followed by a red and then a rare violet alert—the loss of life remained considerable.
Chido’s trajectory was atypical as it skirted the larger island of Madagascar, which could have otherwise helped weaken the cyclone, before directly impacting Mayotte with full force. Following its landfall in Mayotte, the cyclone moved on to Mozambique on December 15, subsequently weakening but continuing to bring heavy rains to Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France acknowledged that the influence of climate change in this instance remains ambiguous, stating, “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.” Furthermore, Météo-France La Réunion serves as the Tropical Cyclone Centre for the South-West Indian Ocean, where seasonal forecasts had predicted an early start to the cyclone season, projecting normal to elevated activity for 2024-2025 with expectations of 9 to 13 systems, of which 4 to 7 may develop into tropical cyclones.
Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that originate over warm tropical oceans, characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rains. The Indian Ocean is known for its susceptibility to such storms, particularly affecting islands like Mayotte. The occurrence of high-intensity cyclones in this region has historically been rare, making the impact of cyclone Chido particularly significant. Climate change is believed to be altering weather patterns globally, yet its specific influence on cyclone intensity and behavior remains an active area of research among meteorologists. The role of meteorological agencies such as Météo-France is pivotal in monitoring and predicting cyclone activity. Their forecasts are critical for timely community preparedness and response actions to minimize human and infrastructural losses during extreme weather events. The upcoming 2024-2025 cyclone season’s projections are vital for guiding local disaster management strategies and public safety measures.
In summary, tropical cyclone Chido represents a historic and devastating event for Mayotte, characterized by unprecedented wind speeds and rainfall, deeply impacting the island’s population. The quick mobilization of emergency services and the declaration of national mourning reflect the tragedy’s gravity. While timely warnings were issued, the storm’s unusual path and intensity led to significant loss of life in an area unprepared for such extreme weather. The ongoing examination of climate change’s role in such occurrences remains critical to understanding and mitigating future risks.
Original Source: wmo.int
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