Tropical Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in nearly 90 years, struck on December 14, bringing winds exceeding 200 km/h and torrential rainfall. Casualties were significant despite advanced warnings from Météo-France. The cyclone subsequently affected Mozambique and Malawi, and its relationship with climate change remains uncertain. The RSMC accurately predicted an early start to the cyclone season, anticipating continued storm activity in the region.
On December 14, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte with wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h, marking it as the most forceful storm to impact the island in nearly 90 years, according to Météo-France. Accompanied by torrential rainfall totaling 176 mm within 12 hours, dangerous sea conditions emerged with wave heights averaging over 5 meters, leading to considerable destruction, including damage to Météo-France’s observational systems.
In the aftermath of the cyclone, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a period of national mourning. A substantial emergency relief operation was initiated, as initial reports suggested that hundreds of lives could have been lost on the small island, which is ill-prepared for such intense cyclones and features numerous informal housing structures. Remarkably, despite timely alerts issued by Météo-France over 50 hours prior, heavy casualties were recorded.
Météo-France issued an amber alert on December 13 at 7 a.m. local time, followed by a red alert later that evening, which escalated to a rarely utilized violet alert on December 14 at 7 a.m. The cyclone took a peculiar path, bypassing Madagascar, which could have otherwise diminished its strength, leading to a direct and devastating impact on Mayotte.
Cyclone 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 stated that the implications of climate change on this event remain unclear, indicating, “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte.”
Additionally, Météo-France, as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for the South-West Indian Ocean, had forecasted the cyclone season effectively, predicting an earlier onset for the 2024-2025 cycle. Their outlook suggested 9 to 13 systems could develop, with 4 to 7 reaching tropical cyclone status, an indication of continued storm activity in the region.
Tropical Cyclone Chido has left a profound impact on Mayotte, evidencing its devastating winds and rainfall, which led to significant destruction and loss of life. The timely warnings issued by Météo-France underscore the importance of preparedness for such rare occurrences. The unclear relationship between climate change and the cyclone’s intensity remains a significant consideration for future forecasts in the region.
Original Source: wmo.int
