Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with wind speeds over 200 km/h, causing catastrophic damage and loss of life, marking the strongest storm in 90 years. Despite early warnings from Météo-France, the island was unprepared for the cyclone’s impact. This event triggered national mourning in France and highlighted the need for improved storm readiness in the future.
On December 14, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck the island of Mayotte with devastating force, registering wind speeds surpassing 200 km/h and gusts exceeding 225 km/h. This storm is noted as the most severe to impact Mayotte in nearly 90 years, according to Météo-France. The cyclone delivered torrential rainfall of 176 mm within 12 hours and generated dangerously high waves, with average heights exceeding 5 meters, crippling the island’s infrastructure, including the destruction of Météo-France’s observation systems.
In response to this calamity, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a period of national mourning as the nation mobilized a significant emergency relief operation. Initial reports indicated that the cyclone may have resulted in hundreds of fatalities on the island, which is typically not prepared for such intense storms due to its many informal housing structures. Despite timely warnings issued by Météo-France more than 50 hours before its arrival, the extent of loss was considerable. An amber alert was issued on December 13, followed by a red alert that evening, and a violet alert on the morning of December 14.
Chido’s unusual trajectory allowed it to bypass Madagascar, potentially increasing its intensity upon hitting Mayotte directly. After impacting Mayotte, the cyclone continued its course, making landfall in Mozambique on December 15 and subsequently weakening while bringing heavy rainfall to both Mozambique and Malawi. Météo-France has stated that the influence of climate change on Chido’s characteristics remains indeterminate. “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 conveyed on its website.
Furthermore, Météo-France La Réunion serves as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the South-West Indian Ocean and had reported in its seasonal forecast issued on October 31, 2023, that the cyclone season was expected to commence earlier than in previous years. This forecast predicted normal to increased cyclone activity for the 2024-2025 season, foreseeing between nine to thirteen systems, with four to seven potentially reaching the tropical cyclone stage.
This article details the impact of Tropical Cyclone Chido, which made landfall on Mayotte, a small island in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant meteorological event. Historical data indicates this storm is the most powerful to hit the island in approximately 90 years, leading to dire consequences for the local population and infrastructure. The article outlines the actions taken by the French government in response to the disaster and highlights the role of Météo-France in providing forecasts and warnings in advance of the storm’s arrival. Furthermore, it touches upon the anticipated weather patterns for the upcoming cyclone season, adding context to the discussions surrounding climate change’s impact on cyclones in the region.
Tropical Cyclone Chido represents a significant and devastating meteorological event for Mayotte, resulting in unprecedented wind speeds and rainfall that led to substantial loss of life and property. Despite advance warnings, the island’s unpreparedness for such an intense storm exacerbated the disaster. As experts continue to analyze the effects of climate change on cyclone behavior, the forthcoming cyclone season indicates an increased likelihood of similar events, underlining the necessity for enhanced preparedness and resilience measures in vulnerable regions.
Original Source: wmo.int
