Tropical cyclone Chido hit Mayotte on December 14 at over 200 km/h, marking the strongest cyclone in 90 years. Heavy rainfall and damaging waves caused extensive damage and loss of life, despite early warnings. Chido made landfall in Mozambique afterward, with forecasts indicating increased cyclone activity in the future.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, producing winds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts over 225 km/h, marking it as the most powerful storm in the region in at least 90 years according to Météo-France. The cyclone brought severe rainfall, recording 176 mm in just 12 hours alongside dangerously high waves averaging over 5 meters. Its intensity was so formidable that it even damaged Météo-France’s observational infrastructure.
In response to the disaster, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national day of mourning and coordinated a substantial emergency relief operation due to early reports suggesting significant loss of life on the small island, which is often not exposed to such severe tropical cyclones and contains many informal housing structures. Tragically, despite Météo-France issuing accurate warnings over 50 hours before the cyclone hit, the loss of life was significant.
Warnings included an amber alert issued on December 13 at 7 AM, a red alert later that day, and a rare violet alert on December 14 at 7 AM. The cyclone followed an atypical path, avoiding Madagascar, which could have weakened Chido. Instead, it made a direct impact on Mayotte, completely enveloping the island.
After impacting Mayotte, Chido made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, where it brought additional heavy rainfall to Mozambique and Malawi. While the role of climate change remains uncertain, Météo-France noted the rarity of such occurrences. It stated, “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.”
On October 31, Météo-France issued a seasonal forecast for the Southwest Indian Ocean, predicting a typical to above-normal cyclone season for 2024-2025 with 9 to 13 systems anticipated, of which 4 to 7 might reach tropical cyclone status. Affecting the timeline, the forecast implied an earlier start to the cyclone season, a departure from previous seasons climaxing only in January.
The direct hit of tropical cyclone Chido on Mayotte, registering unprecedented wind speeds and rainfall, resulted in considerable destruction and loss of life despite proactive warnings. The cyclone’s unusual path and intensity pose questions about climate impacts, though predictions for future cyclone activity in the Southwest Indian Ocean are already being made. This event highlights the critical need for effective disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions.
Original Source: wmo.int
