Cyclone Chido Causes Catastrophic Damage in Mayotte

Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on December 14, 2024, with winds reaching 225 km/h, causing extensive damage. It was the strongest cyclone to hit the region in 90 years, impacting key areas such as Mamoudzou. After affecting Mayotte, the cyclone moved on to Mozambique, hosting comparable wind speeds.

On December 14, 2024, Cyclone Chido unleashed devastating winds across the islands of Mayotte, causing significant destruction in the French territory. These hurricane-force winds resulted in downed power lines, uprooted trees, and damaged roofs across the region. Initially formed in the southeastern Indian Ocean on December 5, Cyclone Chido intensified quickly, impacting the Mauritian islands of Agaléga before achieving peak winds of approximately 250 kilometers per hour by December 12, categorizing it as a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center indicated that the cyclone maintained its strength while traveling over warm ocean waters and experiencing minimal wind shear. After moving just north of Madagascar, Chido made landfall in northern Mayotte, packing sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour. As captured by the VIIRS on the NOAA-20 satellite, the image illustrates the cyclone’s impact shortly after landfall.

This incident marks the most potent cyclone to strike Mayotte in over nine decades, as noted by Météo-France. Early assessments from the European Union indicated widespread structural damage concentrated primarily in the eastern and northern regions, impacting heavily populated areas, including the capital city of Mamoudzou and the airport on Pamandzi, a smaller island nearby. Cyclone Chido continued its destructive path, making a landfall in Mozambique on December 15, where it still maintained Category 4 wind speeds.

Cyclone Chido is part of a series of severe weather events that have increasingly affected tropical regions. The cyclone originates from disturbances in the Indian Ocean, where warmer sea temperatures and particular wind conditions can enhance storm intensity. Understanding cyclones and their impact on areas like Mayotte is vital, particularly due to the island’s vulnerability to such natural disasters. The Saffir-Simpson wind scale classifies hurricanes and cyclones based on sustained wind speeds, providing a measure of potential damage. Mayotte, a French territory known for its lush landscapes and population density, faces considerable risks from storms as climate change continues to influence severe weather patterns in the Indian Ocean.

In summary, Cyclone Chido has caused unprecedented devastation in Mayotte, with winds reaching up to 225 kilometers per hour, marking it as the strongest storm to hit the island in over 90 years. The damage inflicted on infrastructure and communities serves as a stark reminder of the escalating risks associated with severe weather events. Continued monitoring and preparation are essential to mitigate the effects of future storms on vulnerable regions.

Original Source: www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov