Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14 with devastating winds and rainfall, marking it as the strongest storm in nearly 90 years. Despite timely warnings, the cyclone caused significant destruction and loss of life. Following its impact on Mayotte, Chido moved to Mozambique, bringing additional rainfall. Météo-France highlighted the rarity of such an event and questioned climate change’s role in its intensity and trajectory.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, unleashing wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts beyond 225 km/h. Classified as the strongest storm to impact Mayotte in approximately 90 years, this cyclone brought torrential rains, accumulating 176 mm within just 12 hours, and resulted in dangerous seas with average waves taller than 5 meters. The cyclone’s intensity was so severe that it damaged Météo-France’s observational structures.
In response to the disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national day of mourning. An extensive emergency and relief operation was initiated due to early reports indicating that hundreds of residents might have perished on this small island, which is not accustomed to such formidable tropical cyclones and contains many informal housing structures.
Despite accurate warnings from Météo-France delivered over 50 hours prior—issuing an amber alert on December 13 at 7 AM local time, followed by a red alert that evening, and escalating to a violet alert on December 14—heavy fatalities occurred. Chido’s unusual trajectory allowed it to weaken less than expected as it avoided the larger island of Madagascar, ultimately striking Mayotte with its full force.
After affecting Mayotte, Chido made landfall in Mozambique on December 15 and continued to unleash heavy rainfall across Mozambique and Malawi. Météo-France stated that the influence of climate change on the cyclone remains unclear, emphasizing that the direct impact on Mayotte was primarily due to its track.
Météo-France further 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 doesn’t allow us to draw any conclusions about the role of climate change on the track of the cyclone and on its intensity.” The organization serves as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the South-West Indian Ocean.
The seasonal forecast released by the RSMC on October 31 predicted an earlier onset of the 2024-2025 cyclone season, stating that impacts may arise before the end of 2024. The forecast anticipated a normal to heightened level of cyclone activity in the Southwest Indian Ocean, with predictions of 9 to 13 systems, including 4 to 7 reaching tropical cyclone status.
In summary, cyclone Chido represents a significant meteorological event for Mayotte, being the strongest storm in nearly a century. Despite early warnings, the cyclone caused devastating effects, resulting in a national mourning declaration and a mobilization of emergency services. The storm’s unusual path and intensity raised questions about potential climate change influences, although current understanding remains inconclusive.
Original Source: wmo.int
