Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2024, with winds reaching 225 km/h, causing extensive damage. The cyclone formed on December 5 and intensified before impacting the Mauritian islands. Chido is recorded as the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in 90 years, leading to significant infrastructure destruction.
On December 14, 2024, Cyclone Chido wreaked havoc across the islands of Mayotte, delivering devastating hurricane-force winds that resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure and property. The cyclone, which initially formed in the southeastern Indian Ocean on December 5, rapidly intensified as it approached the Mauritian islands, ultimately tracking westward toward Mayotte.
Cyclone Chido is notable for being the strongest storm to impact Mayotte in over nine decades. It formed under favorable conditions, including high sea surface temperatures and reduced wind shear, which allowed it to develop into a potent cyclone. As it made landfall, the storm unleashed sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour, equivalent to Category 4 force on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, leading to significant destruction across the region, particularly in the capital, Mamoudzou, and the airport on Petite Terre.
In summary, Cyclone Chido’s unprecedented impact on Mayotte underscores the increasing vulnerability of island territories to severe weather events. The widespread destruction, particularly in populated areas, highlights the critical need for enhanced disaster preparedness and resilience strategies in response to the growing frequency and intensity of such cyclones fueled by climate change.
Original Source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov
