The Indian Ocean island of Mayotte is currently facing the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, the most powerful storm to strike the French territory in nearly nine decades.
Since Chido made its impact on Saturday, there have been at least 22 fatalities reported, as fierce winds completely dismantled neighborhoods, caused extensive damage to crucial infrastructure, and uprooted numerous trees.
While storms of this magnitude are not uncommon along Africa’s southeast coast, researchers have indicated in recent years that such cyclones are becoming increasingly severe and frequent, largely due to anthropogenic climate change.

The cyclone season in southeastern Africa typically begins in December and concludes in March, coinciding with the warmest water temperatures in the region.
This is critical, as warm waters are a key component in the formation of tropical storms.
Cyclones tend to occur during this period when ocean temperatures peak.
In more recent history, destructive storms such as Cyclone Freddy in 2023, Batsirai in 2022, and Idai in 2019 have devastated numerous areas along the southeastern coast of Africa, impacting countries like Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar during the southern hemisphere’s summer months.
Notably, the term “cyclones” is used in the Indian Ocean and Australia, while “hurricanes” are referenced in other parts of the world.

Human-induced climate change, primarily driven by the utilization of coal, oil, and gas, has resulted in global temperatures rising significantly.
Presently, the atmosphere is approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than it was before industrialization.
This temperature increase is relevant since warm water—specifically, at least 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit)—is a critical factor in the development of cyclones or hurricanes.
With global warming, sea surface temperatures have skyrocketed, reaching record-breaking levels.
The ocean conditions that fostered Cyclone Chido were characterized by temperatures approaching 29 degrees Celsius.

The heightened temperatures contribute to the intensity of subsequent storms, resulting in stronger winds, increased rainfall, and more devastating storm surges.
A 2022 study by climate scientists revealed that cyclones striking southeastern Africa that year were exacerbated by climate change, although they were unable to quantify the exact severity due to limited weather data in the region.

Another significant issue is the lack of early warning systems across much of Africa.
The World Meteorological Organization has reported that the continent possesses merely 37 radar facilities for weather tracking, starkly contrasted with Europe’s 347 and North America’s 291.
This deficiency means that nations susceptible to extreme weather conditions are ill-prepared for dangerous storms, resulting in delays in evacuation efforts.
The death tolls from recent devastating cyclones have reached into the hundreds, with 2019’s Idai reporting over 1,000 casualties.

In response to these challenges, the United Nations launched an initiative in 2022 aimed at ensuring that every individual globally has access to early weather warning systems within five years.
Celeste Saulo, the secretary-general of WMO, has emphasized the importance of improving weather forecast accessibility, deeming adaptation to climate change an “essential necessity.”