Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone

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A Medicane is a subtropical or tropical cyclonic storm system similar to a hurricane that occurs over the Mediterranean Sea. Medicanes do not usually reach hurricane strength, but may produce substantial damage because of their location near highly populated areas around the Mediterranean. Although the Mediterranean is not an officially designated tropical cyclone basin, cyclones having properties of a tropical cyclone occasionally form in the mid-latitudes and on rare occasions over the Black Sea. A medicane is small, has an axisymmetric cloud structure, generates strong winds, heavy rains, and thunderstorms. This phenomenon has often been named "Medicane" or "Tropical-like Mediterranean Storm (T.M.S.)".

Origin and local sub futures

About once or twice per year, usually during fall when the Mediterranean is still warm, a depression takes on the characteristics of a subtropical storm with clouds wrapped around an eye, intense thunderstorm activity, strong surface winds, and warm temperature in the center clouds. In a satellite image such a system can resemble a tropical storm, but without the dimensions or power. One example is a Medicane that threatened France from November 1, 2011 to November 9, 2011 and produced up to 800 mm of rain. Many other storms have been classified as Medicanes.

Most Medicanes form in the western Mediterranean region, although some form in the Ionian region. In fall there is a steady increase in Medicane formation in the western Mediterranean region and a decrease in January; in the Ionian region it is the reverse - Medicanes are much less frequent in fall than in January or February.

Evolution and life cycle

Medicanes usually have a life cycle between 12 hours and 5 days and travel between ~700 and ~3,000 km. Although similar to tropical cyclones in the Caribbean or the Atlantic, their evolution is different. Unlike hurricanes, which often evolve from a tropical wave, Medicanes often develop from a cold upper-level low. In the first phase there is a baroclinic development. The second phase is much more like a convective tropical air-sea interaction with sea temperatures above 26°C (78.8°F).

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