Tropical cyclone Chido hit Mayotte on December 14 with winds exceeding 200 km/h, causing severe damage and significant loss of life. It marked the strongest storm in 90 years, generating heavy rainfall and dangerous sea conditions. Despite timely warnings from Météo-France, the island, with its vulnerable structures, faced devastating impacts. Chido later made landfall in Mozambique, bringing further rainfall to the region.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, bringing sustained winds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h. This storm is deemed the most powerful to strike Mayotte in 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. Accompanying the fierce winds were torrential rains, accumulating 176 mm in just 12 hours, and perilous sea conditions with wave heights averaging over 5 meters. The cyclone’s intensity was so severe that it caused damage to one of Météo-France’s observation structures.
In response to the calamity, French President Emmanuel Macron proclaimed a national day of mourning. An extensive emergency relief operation was promptly organized in light of initial assessments indicating that hundreds of residents may have perished. The island’s vulnerability to such intense tropical cyclones and the presence of numerous informal housing setups exacerbated the disaster’s impact.
Despite timely warnings issued by Météo-France over 50 hours prior to the cyclone’s landfall, there was a staggering loss of life. An amber alert was released on December 13 at 7 AM, which escalated to a red alert later that day, and a rarely invoked violet alert was declared on the morning of December 14.
Chido’s trajectory was unorthodox, as it navigated close to Madagascar, a scenario that would normally weaken a cyclone. Instead, it made landfall as a powerful tropical cyclone, fully surrounding Mayotte. Thereafter, Chido continued onto Mozambique on December 15, where it diminished in strength but still caused significant rainfall in Mozambique and Malawi.
Météo-France remarked on the ambiguity surrounding climate change’s role in this event. They stated, “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte.” They emphasized that this occurrence is exceedingly rare and that current knowledge does not allow for clear conclusions regarding the influence of climate change on the cyclone’s path and intensity.
The Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) of Météo-France operates as the World Meteorological Organization’s hub for tropical cyclone monitoring in the South-West Indian Ocean. The seasonal forecast circulated on October 31 predicted an early onset for the 2024-2025 cyclone season, forecasting 9 to 13 possible systems, with 4 to 7 attaining tropical cyclone status.
Tropical cyclone Chido has left a profound impact on Mayotte, marking a rare and devastating meteorological event in recent history. The cyclone’s unprecedented strength and trajectory resulted in significant loss of life and widespread damage. While the connection to climate change remains unclear, the situation emphasizes the necessity for robust emergency preparedness in regions unaccustomed to such severe cyclonic activity.
Original Source: wmo.int
