Cyclone Zorbas

Cyclone Zorbas, or Medicane Zorbas, was the first officially documented Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone, or medicane, since Cyclone Numa in 2017. Zorbas originated as an extratropical cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.[1] Warm sea surface temperatures allowed the system to quickly deepen and transition into a tropical cyclone. Zorbas intensified as it headed northward towards Greece, finally reaching its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 987 mbar (29.15 inHg) on September 29.[2]

Zorbas
Zorbas at peak intensity over the Ionian Sea
TypeMediterranean tropical-like cyclone
Formed27 September 2018
Dissipated2 October 2018
Lowest pressure987 hPa (29.15 inHg)
Highest winds
Highest gust≥120 km/h (75 mph)
Damage>$1 million (2018 USD)
Casualties6 dead, 2 missing
Areas affectedTunisia, Libya, Italy, Greece, Turkey

Heavy rain and flash flooding from Zorbas killed 5 people in Tunisia. One person was killed and two were declared missing in Greece.[3] The storm was estimated to have caused millions of dollars (2018 USD) in damages.[4]

Meteorological history

A first outlook about the possible development of a shallow warm-core cyclone in the Mediterranean was issued by ESTOFEX on 25 September 2018, and a second extended outlook was issued on 26 September 2018.[5][6] On 27 September 2018, an extratropical storm developed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.[1] Water temperatures of around 27 °C (81 °F) supported the storm's transition into a hybrid cyclone, with a warm thermal core in the center. The storm moved northeastward toward Greece, gradually intensifying and developing characteristics of a tropical cyclone. On September 29, the storm made landfall at peak intensity in the Peloponnese, west of Kalamata, where a minimum central pressure of 989.3 mbar (29.21 inHg) was reported.[2] ESTOFEX reported on Zorbas as "Mediterranean Cyclone 2018M02", with the same pressure of 989 mbar (29.2 inHg) at Kalamata, further estimating the minimum central pressure of the cyclone to be 987 mbar (29.1 inHg), with one-minute maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) and a Dvorak number of T4.0, which all translate into marginal Category 1 hurricane characteristics for the cyclone.[7] Early on 1 October, Zorbas emerged into the Aegean Sea, while accelerating northeastward.[8] On 2 October, Zorbas moved over northwestern Turkey and dissipated.[9] A cold wake was observed in the Mediterranean Sea, with sea surface temperatures dropping 3–4 °C (5–7 °F) along the track of Zorbas due to strong upwelling.[10]

It is unknown who named the system Zorbas, but the name is officially recognized for a medicane by the Deutscher Wetterdienst.[11]

Preparations

Ships were ordered remain docked in the ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio on Saturday by port authorities due to gale-force winds up to 10 on the Beaufort scale blowing in the Aegean Sea. Ferry services of Rio to Antirrio, Kyllini to Zakynthos, and Kyllini to Kefalonia were also suspended.[12]

Impact and aftermath

During its formative stages, the storm caused flash flooding in Tunisia and Libya.[13] The Tunisian government pledged financial assistance to residents whose homes were damaged.[14][15] In advance of the storm's landfall in Greece, the Hellenic National Meteorological Office issued a severe warning. Several flights were canceled, and schools were closed.[13] The offshore islands of Strofades and Rhodes reported gale-force winds during the storm's passage. A private weather station in Voutsaras measured wind gusts of 105 km/h (65 mph). The storm spawned a waterspout that moved onshore.[2] Gale-force winds in Athens knocked down trees and power lines. A fallen tree destroyed the roof of a school in western Athens.[13] Dozens of roads were closed due to flooding.[16] In Ioannina, the storm damaged the minaret on the top of the Aslan Pasha Mosque, which dates to 1614.[17] From 29 to 30 September, Zorbas produced flash flooding in Greece and parts of western Turkey, with the storm dropping as much as 200 mm (8 in) in Greece and spawning multiple waterspouts. Three people were reporting missing in Greece after the flash floods; one person was found but the other two individuals remained missing, as of 3 October.[3]

See also

References
  1. "Europe Weather Analysis on 2018-9-27". Free University of Berlin. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. Jeff Masters (29 September 2018). "Tropical Storm-Like Medicane Hits Greece". Weather Underground. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  3. Nick Austin (3 October 2018). "Cyclone floods parts of Greece, two people missing". FreightWaves. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  4. "Global Catastrophe Recap - September 2018" (PDF). Aon Benfield. 9 October 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  5. "Extended Forecast Tue 25 Sep 2018 19:50". ESTOFEX. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  6. "Extended Forecast Wed 26 Sep 2018 20:13". ESTOFEX. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  7. "Mesoscale Discussion Sat 29 Sep 2018 12:29". ESTOFEX. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  8. "Europe Weather Analysis on 2018-10-01". Free University of Berlin. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  9. "Europe Weather Analysis on 2018-10-02". Free University of Berlin. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  10. "Medicane cools the waters of central Mediterranean to colder than average". Severe Weather Europe. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  11. "Europe Weather Analysis on 29 September 2018 00 UTC" (GIF). Free University of Berlin (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  12. "Cyclone Zorbas hits the Peloponnese causing flash flooding (VIDEOS)". Greek City Times. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  13. Elinda Labropoulou; Brandon Miller (29 September 2018). "'Medicane,' a rare, hurricane-like storm, is on track to hit Europe". CNN. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  14. Jonathan Belles (29 September 2018). "A Medicane Is Swirling in the Mediterranean Sea Into Greece: Here's What That Means". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  15. "Tunisia floods kill at least 4, cause major damage". Associated Press. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  16. "Storm hits Greek capital with downpours, gale-force winds as it continues east". Kathimerini English Edition. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  17. "Xenophon Storm Could Turn into Mediterranean Hurricane, Meteo Warns". The National Herald. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
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