Tropical Cyclone Chido Devastates Mayotte: Overview and Impacts
Tropical cyclone Chido devastated Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with winds over 200 km/h and significant rainfall, causing substantial damage and loss of life. Despite timely warnings from Météo-France, the small island’s unpreparedness led to severe impacts. After Mayotte, Chido continued toward Mozambique, raising questions about the role of climate change in such events. The RSMC forecasts an active cyclone season ahead.
On December 14, 2023, tropical cyclone Chido made landfall in Mayotte, hitting with wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts surpassing 225 km/h. This storm is reported to be the most powerful to strike Mayotte in the last 90 years, as indicated by Météo-France. Accompanying the winds were torrential rains, totaling 176 mm within just 12 hours, and extremely high wave heights averaging over 5 meters.
The cyclone’s impact was severe, causing devastating damage including the destruction of Météo-France’s observation infrastructure. French President Emmanuel Macron declared a national mourning period, and a large-scale emergency response was launched in light of early reports predicting significant loss of life, given the island’s vulnerability due to informal housing structures.
Despite Météo-France issuing timely warnings over 50 hours in advance, significant casualties were reported. The warning escalation included an amber alert on December 13 and a rare violet alert on December 14, highlighting the storm’s potential danger. Chido took an unusual trajectory by skirting Madagascar, which typically weakens tropical systems, thereby maintaining its strength as it approached Mayotte.
Following its time in Mayotte, Chido made landfall in Mozambique on December 15, subsequently weakening but continuing to bring heavy rainfall to both Mozambique and Malawi. Météo-France discussed the complicating factors surrounding climate change, stating, “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 Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for the South-West Indian Ocean, operated by Météo-France La Réunion, reported an accurate seasonal forecast predicting an early start to the cyclone season for 2024-2025. This forecast also anticipated near-normal activity levels, projecting 9 to 13 systems with 4 to 7 possibly reaching tropical cyclone status.
Tropical cyclone Chido significantly impacted Mayotte, marking the strongest storm in 90 years with catastrophic winds and rainfall. Despite early warnings, the vulnerability of the infrastructure contributed to casualties. The cyclone’s unusual trajectory has raised concerns about future storm patterns, emphasizing the ongoing need for robust forecasting and emergency response strategies. Météo-France’s insights on climate change remain unresolved in this context, indicating a need for further study.
Original Source: wmo.int
