Cyclone Zorbas, or Medicane Zorbas, was the first officially documented
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones, often referred to as medicanes (a portmanteau of Mediterranean hurricanes) but sometimes also as Mediterranean cyclones or as Mediterranean hurricanes, are meteorological phenomena occasionally observed over ...
, or medicane, since
Cyclone Numa
Cyclone Numa, also known as Medicane Numa, was a Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone with the properties of a subtropical cyclone. Numa formed on 11 November 2017 west of the British Isles, out of the extratropical remnants of Tropical Sto ...
in 2017. Zorbas originated as an
extratropical cyclone in the eastern
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...
.
Warm
sea surface temperatures
Sea surface temperature (SST), or ocean surface temperature, is the ocean temperature close to the surface. The exact meaning of ''surface'' varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masse ...
allowed the system to quickly deepen and
transition
Transition or transitional may refer to:
Mathematics, science, and technology Biology
* Transition (genetics), a point mutation that changes a purine nucleotide to another purine (A ↔ G) or a pyrimidine nucleotide to another pyrimidine (C ↔ ...
into a
tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...
. Zorbas intensified as it headed northward towards
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...
, finally reaching its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum central pressure of on September 29.
Heavy rain and
flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, or tropical storm, or by meltwater from ice or snow flowing ...
ing from Zorbas killed 5 people in
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
. One person was killed and two were declared missing in Greece.
The storm was estimated to have caused millions of dollars (2018
USD
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
) in damages.
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. On 27 September 2018, an extratropical storm developed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Water temperatures of around 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
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge whi ...
, west of
Kalamata
Kalamáta ( el, Καλαμάτα ) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. As the capital and chief port of the Messenia regi ...
, where a minimum central pressure of was reported.
ESTOFEX reported on Zorbas as "Mediterranean Cyclone 2018M02", with the same pressure of at Kalamata, further estimating the minimum central pressure of the cyclone to be , with one-minute maximum sustained winds of and a
Dvorak number of T4.0, which all translate into marginal Category 1 hurricane characteristics for the cyclone. Early on 1 October, Zorbas emerged into the
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi (Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans an ...
, while accelerating northeastward. On 2 October, Zorbas moved over northwestern
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
and dissipated. A cold wake was observed in the Mediterranean Sea, with sea surface temperatures dropping along the track of Zorbas due to strong
upwelling
Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and usually nutrient-rich water from deep water towards the ocean surface. It replaces the warmer and usually nutrient-depleted surface water. The nut ...
.
It is unknown who named the system ''Zorbas'', but the name is officially recognized for a ''medicane'' by the
Deutscher Wetterdienst
The () or DWD for short, is the German Meteorological Service, based in Offenbach am Main, Germany, which monitors weather and meteorological conditions over Germany and provides weather services for the general public and for nautical, aviat ...
.
Effects
Greece
An indoor basketball stadium in
Artemida,
Attica
Attica ( el, Αττική, Ancient Greek ''Attikḗ'' or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens, the capital of Greece and its countryside. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Se ...
, sustained damage to its roof during the storm, forcing the postponement of a game. The neighborhoods surrounding the Profitis Ilias in
Mikri Mantineia
Mikri Mantineia ( el, Μικρή Μαντίνεια) is a seaside village in the municipality of Kalamata, Messenia, Greece. In 2011, it had a population of 705. It is situated at 20 m above sea level, on the northeastern shore of the Gulf of Mes ...
were left without electricity for over 20 days after extensive damage occurred to the power grid. Strong waves damaged seaside businesses and flooded streets in
Kalamata
Kalamáta ( el, Καλαμάτα ) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula, after Patras, in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. As the capital and chief port of the Messenia regi ...
,
Messinia
Messenia or Messinia ( ; el, Μεσσηνία ) is a regional unit (''perifereiaki enotita'') in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, in Greece. Until the implementation of the Kallikratis plan on 1 January 2011, Messenia was a ...
.
Traffic along coastal roads from Kalamata to
Filoxenia ceased during the storm. In
Navarinou, floodwaters swept chairs, tables, and umbrellas from beach vendors onto roads. In
Methoni, a coastal highway and boats were damaged by high surf. Power outages occurred in Methoni,
Koroni
Koroni or Corone ( el, Κορώνη) is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is a municipal unit. Known as ''Corone'' ...
and
Finikounda; crews worked to restore electricity on 29 September. Electricity was cut in
West Mani
West Mani ( el, Δυτική Μάνη - ''Dytiki Mani'') is a municipality in the Messenia regional unit, Peloponnese, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kardamyli. The municipality has an area of 402.809 km2. It comprises the northw ...
and
Pylos.
The coastal village of
Kiveri
Kiveri ( el, Κιβέρι) is a small village in the municipal unit of Lerna (municipal unit), Lerna, Argolis, Greece. It is situated on the bay of Argos, Peloponnese, Argos across from the tourist center of Nafplio. It has a population of appro ...
in
Argolis
Argolis or Argolida ( el, Αργολίδα , ; , in ancient Greek and Katharevousa) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese, situated in the eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula and part of the tri ...
, suffered severe damage as a result of strong waves from the storm and floodwaters from the overflowing Oxovrio river. A pier in the village's port suffered damage, and multiple ships sank there. Units from the
Argos-Mykines
Argos-Mykines ( el, Άργος-Μυκήνες) is a municipality in the Argolis regional unit, Peloponnese, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the city of Argos. The municipality has an area of 1002.508 km2.
The mayor is Dimitris Kamposos, ...
municipality were dispatched to repair damage and clean up mud and debris that had been swept into the village. Several vessels sank offshore of
Myloi. Severe agricultural losses occurred in the village of
Skafidaki, with olives, pomegranates, oranges, and mandarins being the worst impacted. OSE lines in Mylos and Kiveri were damaged. Roadways were damaged throughout the municipality.
The second floor of the Salamina Health Center flooded in
Salamina city on
Salamis Island
Salamis ( ; el, Σαλαμίνα, Salamína; grc, label= Ancient and Katharevousa, Σαλαμίς, Salamís) is the largest Greek island in the Saronic Gulf, about off-coast from Piraeus and about west of central Athens. The chief city, Sa ...
after heavy rainfall entered through the roof and walls. Furniture, medical tools, and other items were floating in the floodwaters.
Schools were closed in
Karystos
Karystos ( el, Κάρυστος) or Carystus is a small coastal town on the Greek island of Euboea. It has about 5,000 inhabitants (12,000 in the municipality). It lies 129 km south of Chalkis. From Athens it is accessible by ferry via Mar ...
on 27 September. The Evripos bridge was closed on 26 September, and the Eretria-Oropos ferry was halted.
On the island of
Euboea
Evia (, ; el, Εύβοια ; grc, Εὔβοια ) or Euboia (, ) is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait (only at its narrowest ...
, two elderly people and a 27-year-old man went missing during the storm. Restaurants and houses were damaged by floodwaters. Firefighters answered at least 534 calls for assistance. One couple was washed away by a water current, however, they were rescued by firefighters. The
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge whi ...
was placed under a state of emergency.
Elsewhere
During its formative stages, the storm caused flash flooding in Tunisia and Libya.
The Tunisian government pledged financial assistance to residents whose homes were damaged.
See also
*
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones, often referred to as medicanes (a portmanteau of Mediterranean hurricanes) but sometimes also as Mediterranean cyclones or as Mediterranean hurricanes, are meteorological phenomena occasionally observed over ...
*
Tropical cyclones in 2018
During 2018, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins, located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 151 tropical cyclones had formed this year to date. 102 t ...
*
Tropical cyclones and climate change
Climate change can affect tropical cyclones in a variety of ways: an intensification of rainfall and wind speed, a decrease in overall frequency, an increase in the frequency of very intense storms and a poleward extension of where the cyclones r ...
*
Tropical Storm Rolf
Tropical Storm Rolf, also known as Tropical Storm 01M, was an unusual Mediterranean tropical storm that brought flooding to Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland in November 2011. Rolf originated from an extratropical system near west ...
(2011) – the first tropical storm in the Mediterranean to be recognized by an international agency
*
Cyclone Qendresa
Cyclone Qendresa, also known as Medicane Qendresa, was one of the most intense Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones on record, which struck Malta and the Italian island of Sicily in 2014. The storm formed on 5 November and rapidly intensified two ...
(2014) – one of the strongest Mediterranean tropical cyclones ever recorded
*
Hurricane Leslie (2018)
Hurricane Leslie (known as Storm Leslie or Cyclone Leslie), while extratropical, was the strongest cyclone of tropical origin to strike the Iberian Peninsula since 1842. A large, long-lived, and very erratic tropical cyclone, Leslie was ...
– a cyclone in the East Atlantic that impacted Portugal as an extratropical cyclone about two weeks after Zorbas affected Greece
*
Cyclone Ianos
Cyclone Ianos, also known as Medicane Ianos, was a rare Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone (Medicane) that impacted the eastern Mediterranean on 17 and 18 September 2020, especially Greece. Ianos developed from an area of low pressure over the ...
(2020) – another medicane that mainly affected Greece
References
External links
Hellenic National Meteorological Service– NOAA
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zorbas
2018 in Greece
Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones
September 2018 events in Europe
October 2018 events in Europe
Tropical cyclones in 2018