Cyclone Chido ravaged Mayotte on December 14, 2023, with winds exceeding 200 km/h, marking it as the strongest storm in 90 years. Despite early warnings, the devastation resulted in significant casualties and damage, prompting national mourning in France. The cyclone’s unusual path spared Madagascar, intensifying its impact on Mayotte before moving onto Mozambique, raising concerns about regional cyclone activity amidst climate change complexities.
Tropical cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2023, becoming the most powerful storm to impact the region in over 90 years. With wind speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour and gusts surpassing 225 kilometers per hour, Chido brought with it torrential rainfall totaling 176 millimeters within a 12-hour period and generated perilous sea conditions with average wave heights exceeding five meters. The cyclone’s fierce winds were so intense that they caused damage to Météo-France’s observational infrastructure.
Mayotte, an island nestled in the Indian Ocean, encountered a catastrophic weather event on December 14, 2023, when cyclone Chido made landfall. This extraordinary tropical cyclone took an unusual trajectory, bypassing the larger island of Madagascar, which would typically serve as a barrier, thereby strengthening its impact. The event led to widespread devastation, particularly among informal housing structures. The local population was unaccustomed to such severe storms, resulting in tragic loss of life and significant damage to properties.
The devastation wrought by cyclone Chido on Mayotte serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of small island nations to extreme weather events. Despite timely warnings issued by Météo-France, the destructive potential of Chido overwhelmed emergency preparedness efforts. The meteorological community’s understanding of the role of climate change in such events remains limited, indicating a need for further research as the region braces for increased cyclone activity in the future.
Original Source: wmo.int
