Officials have issued a warning that the death toll from Cyclone Chido, which hit the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, could reach hundreds, possibly even thousands. According to a preliminary study by scientists from Imperial College London, climate change has intensified the cyclone, making it 40% more likely to occur in the warmer climate of 2024 compared to pre-industrial times. Chido, classified as a category four storm, caused significant damage to the island, where a third of the population live in makeshift housing. The true extent of the disaster is still unknown, but experts fear the worst.
The study used an advanced computer model to assess the impact of global warming on tropical storms like Chido. It concluded that wind speeds in the region where the cyclone made landfall had increased by 3 miles per second due to climate change. This means that Chido, which was initially classified as a category three storm, was upgraded to a category four, causing even more destruction.
While France’s weather service has not directly attributed Chido’s intensity to global warming, they have acknowledged that warmer oceans, driven by human-caused climate change, have made storms more violent. Mayotte bore the brunt of the cyclone’s impact, and experts say that its trajectory over the island was a major contributing factor.
The study also highlighted the fact that the climate is now 1.3 degrees Celsius warmer compared to pre-industrial times. This extra heat in the atmosphere and oceans is causing more frequent and volatile weather events. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, and warmer oceans lead to greater evaporation, creating the perfect conditions for tropical storms to form and intensify.
The impact of Cyclone Chido on Mayotte serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of climate change. As global temperatures continue to rise, we can expect to see more frequent and severe weather events, putting vulnerable communities at risk. It is crucial that we take immediate action to reduce our carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change before it’s too late.