Autumn Storm Off Greece – SRF Meteorologist: “Hurricane’s Violent Little Brother” – News

A strong autumn storm called “Ianos” is approaching Greece. When it comes to this meteorological phenomenon, meteorologists speak of a medicane (from the English Mediterranean hurricane).

The Greek civil defense warned all residents of the affected islands around the Peloponnese peninsula not to take to the streets during the storm. The meteorological department asked the sailors to go to the nearest port as soon as possible. SRF meteorologist Jürg Zogg explains the danger the cyclone can bring.

Jürg Zogg

SRF Meteorologist

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Jürg Zogg has been working as a meteorologist at SRF Meteo since April 2004. He completed his studies in geography at the University of Zurich with a specialization in climatology and atmospheric physics. He then worked for almost five years for the Meteomedia meteorological service in Appenzellerland.

SRF News: “Ianos” heads to Greece. What can you expect from the so-called Medicane?

Jürg Zogg: It is quite a dangerous meteorological situation for the affected area, because with this Medicane there are gusts of 100-150 km / h when it touches land. This can cause damage. This especially applies to the Ionian Islands, which are likely to be attacked on Friday night. And then finally the Peloponnese peninsula, which will likely be attacked on Friday.

What harm can be expected if the medicane reaches land?

In such weather conditions, the wind is often not the biggest problem, but the massive rains that Medicane brings with it. Although the storm then weakens over the land mass, the humid air may threaten torrential rains in the region through Saturday, with sometimes intense thunderstorms, flooding and flash flooding.

The models here predict precipitation of 200 to 400 millimeters in some places. That’s a lot in areas where it is rarely the case that large amounts are consumed in such a short time.

Is this weather phenomenon unusual or does it occur frequently?

Hurricanes with tropical characteristics over the Mediterranean typically occur once or twice a year. That happens from time to time, sometimes in a somewhat more violent way than usual.Typically, this type of Medicanes occurs in autumn, when the sea in the region of origin is very warm and cold, disturbing air flows from the north . At 28 degrees, the sea is also slightly warmer than the long-term average.

What is the difference between a medicane and a hurricane?

Medicaine is the violent little brother of the hurricane. Both the Medicane and the hurricane are cyclones that form over a warm sea and have a warm core. A doctor also sometimes has a cloudless eye that can be seen well on the satellite image. However, there are significant differences in terms of length, duration and intensity.

Hurricanes are longer lasting, wider and of greater intensity. A violent and fully developed medicane can only reach the lowest level 1 of a hurricane. The most important difference with a storm like the one we see here is the warmer air, which brings more humidity and therefore more heavy rain.

The interview was conducted by Luca Froelicher.