Tropical Cyclone Chido’s Catastrophic Impact on Mayotte

Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with winds exceeding 200 km/h, causing significant devastation and loss of life. The cyclone was the strongest to hit the island in 90 years, leading to a national mourning declaration by President Macron. Despite warnings issued over 50 hours in advance, the cyclone’s unusual path around Madagascar intensified its impact on Mayotte, and it moved on to Mozambique, causing further rainfall.

On December 14, 2023, Tropical Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte, registering wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h and gusts reaching over 225 km/h. This event marked the most powerful storm to impact Mayotte in the past 90 years, as reported by Météo-France. Along with the destructive winds, torrential rains of 176 mm within just 12 hours and dangerously high seas with average waves towering above 5 meters contributed to extensive damage, including the destruction of Météo-France’s observational structures.

In response to the catastrophe, French President Emmanuel Macron declared a period of national mourning and coordinated a widespread emergency relief operation, as initial assessments suggested that hundreds of lives may have been lost in the region. Mayotte, which is largely unprepared for such severe tropical cyclones, faced significant challenges due to its numerous informal housing structures. Despite Météo-France issuing detailed warnings over 50 hours in advance—from an amber alert on December 13 at 7 AM to a rare violet alert on the morning of December 14—the heavy loss of life was distressing.

Cyclone Chido followed an atypical path, narrowly avoiding Madagascar, which typically could have diminished its potency. Instead, the cyclone struck Mayotte with unprecedented intensity. Subsequently, it made landfall in Mozambique on December 15 before diminishing in strength, also bringing heavy rainfall to Mozambique and Malawi. Météo-France commented on the unpredictability of climate change’s influence, stating that, “The impacts of Chido are above all due to its track and the direct hit on Mayotte.” They noted that the cyclone’s occurrence was an exceptionally rare instance not witnessed for nearly a century.

The Météo-France La Réunion operates as the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones in the South-West Indian Ocean. Their seasonal forecast, released on October 31, accurately anticipated an earlier onset of the 2024-2025 cyclone season, predicting a near-normal to above-normal level of activity, with expectations of 9 to 13 storm systems, 4 to 7 of which may develop into tropical cyclones.

Tropical Cyclones are severe weather phenomena that can lead to catastrophic consequences, particularly for small islands like Mayotte, which are generally unaccustomed to such natural disasters. In December 2023, Cyclone Chido made headlines as it was the strongest cyclone to hit Mayotte in more than 90 years, underscoring the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns possibly associated with climate change. Météo-France, designated as the Tropical Cyclone Centre for the South-West Indian Ocean by the World Meteorological Organization, provides forecasts and warnings to mitigate the impact of such storms. The interaction of a cyclone’s path with geographical features also plays a significant role in its intensity and potential damage, as illustrated by Chido’s unusual trajectory around Madagascar.

The devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Chido to Mayotte on December 14, 2023, illustrates the vulnerabilities of small island nations to extreme weather events. Despite timely warnings and precautionary measures, the impact was severe, with significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The phenomenon emphasizes the need for enhanced preparedness and further scrutiny regarding the potential influence of climate change on the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones in the region.

Original Source: wmo.int