Cyclone Ianos

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cyclone Ianos
Ianos at its record peak intensity, nearing landfall in Greece on 17 September.
Meteorological history
Formed14 September 2020 (14 September 2020)
Dissipated21 September 2020 (21 September 2020)
Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone
1-minute sustained (SSHWS)
Highest winds155 km/h (100 mph)
Highest gusts195 km/h (120 mph)
Lowest pressure985 hPa (mbar); 29.09 inHg
(Record low in the Mediterranean sea)
Overall effects
Fatalities4
Missing1
Damage≥ $100 million (2020 USD)[1]
≥ €164 million (2020 Euro)
Areas affectedLibya, Italy, Malta, Greece, Crete, Cyrenaica

Cyclone Ianos, also known as Medicane Ianos, was a rare

area of low pressure over the Gulf of Sidra that quickly began tropical cyclogenesis while moving over warm waters. After receiving various names from different meteorological centers, the storm, dubbed Ianos by the METEO unit of the National Observatory of Athens,[2] rapidly intensified while moving northeastward. After scraping Italy, the storm went on to strike Malta and Crete with tropical storm-force winds. Despite land interaction, the small cyclone reached its peak intensity of 159 km/h (99 mph) with wind gusts up to 195 km/h (121 mph) on 18 September,[3] equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale
, immediately before making landfall in southwestern Greece. After landfall, Ianos turned back out to sea and moved south-southeastward, before dissipating on 21 September.

Damage was severe in Greece, with cities in the central part of the country getting the brunt of the storm's impacts. Cities such as

Kefalonia, and Zakynthos. Four people were killed, and one person remains missing.[4][5] Ianos caused at least $100 million (2020 USD) in damages.[1]

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

An

Category 2 hurricane.[3][7][8]

After making landfall, Ianos turned south-southeastward on 19 September, moving back out to sea,[9] where the storm managed to reorganize somewhat. Soon afterward, Ianos underwent a weakening trend. Ianos continued moving south-southeastward for another couple of days before dissipating on 21 September, off the coast of Cyrenaica.[10][11]

Warmer sea surface temperatures caused by climate change in the Mediterranean Sea can allow the storms to take on more tropical appearances and characteristics, increasing the wind speeds and making the storms more intense.[12] A 2017 study in Global and Planetary Change led by Raquel Romera examined a large suite of regional climate model projections, which supported the theory that medicanes will gradually become stronger due to climate change.[13]

Preparations and impact

Subtropical Storm Alpha (left) and Cyclone Ianos (right) both affecting Europe on 18 September.

As Ianos passed to the south of Italy on 16 September, it produced heavy rain across the southern part of the country and in Sicily. As much as 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain was reported in Reggio Calabria, more than the city's normal monthly rainfall.[14]

The

USD).[18]

Aftermath and naming

On 20 September, the Public Power Corporation reported that 61 power substations were in operation in the urban zone of Karditsa, and another 10 would be powered shortly. Efforts were made to restore power in Argithea and Mouzaki. The top officials of the corporation met with the leader of the Karditsa Fire Department to coordinate and accelerate water pumping in areas where the technical crews needed to work.[19]

Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged that "all the affected areas will have immediate support." He sent three senior officials to the worst-hit central region.[4] On 22 September, Prime Minister Mitsotakis visited the Karditsa region, one of the hardest-hit regions. 5,000 to 8,000 euros were given to each household and business in Karditsa and Mouzaki.[20] In Mouzaki, Mayor Fanis Stathis declared that all schools and nurseries will remain closed, as Ianos damaged the road network, and school buildings of the region.[19]

Greece assigned the system the name "Ianos" (Ιανός),[21] sometimes anglicized to "Janus",[14] while the German weather service used the name "Udine";[22] the Turkish used "Tulpar".

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Global Catastrophe Recap - September 2020" (PDF). Aon Benfield. 8 October 2020. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Ονοματοδοσία χαμηλών βαρομετρικών / διαταραχών" [Naming barometric lows / disturbances] (in Greek). National Observatory of Athens. 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. ^
    S2CID 244187015
    .
  4. ^ a b c d "Cyclone Ianos: Three dead as 'medicane' sweeps across Greece". BBC News. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Wichmann, Anna (24 September 2020). "Woman Missing after Karditsa Flooding Found Dead". greece.greekreporter.com. Greek Reporter. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. ^ Korošec, Marko (16 September 2020). "Severe Weather Outlook for Medicane Ianos – Sept 17–19th, 2020". severe-weather.eu. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b "A strong 'medicane' named Ianos is forecast to bring hurricane-like conditions to Greece". The Washington Post. 17 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (PDF). usda.library.cornell.edu (Report). Vol. 107. United States Department of Agriculture. 22 September 2020. p. 28. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-19". Free University of Berlin. 19 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-20". Free University of Berlin. 20 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-21". Free University of Berlin. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Storm Ianos: Three dead as rare 'medicane' batters Greece". www.aljazeera. AlJazeera. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  13. ^ Masters, Jeff; Henson, Bob (18 September 2020). "A slew of weather events – including two named storms troubling Europe – pose challenges far and wide » Yale Climate Connections". Yale Climate Connections. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  14. ^ a b Kelly, Maura (16 September 2020). "Storm Janus develops into medicane, will wallop Greece with flooding rain, strong winds". AccuWeather. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Medicane hits Greece". World Meteorological Organization. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Cyclone Ianos: Two dead as 'medicane' sweeps across Greece". BBC News. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Cyclone Ianos: Two dead and one missing after 'rare extreme weather phenomenon' hits Greece". euronews.com. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Kefalonia needs your help NOW after devastating hurricane-like storm". greekcitytimes.com. Greek City Times. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Mitsotakis to Visit Karditsa after "Ianos" Hurricane Damage". thenationalherald.com. The National Herald (Greece). 20 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  20. ^ Claus, Patricia (22 September 2020). "PM Mitsotakis Tours Devastated Karditsa Area, Promises Swift Aid". greece.greekreporter.com. Greek Reporter. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  21. ^ Καραγιαννίδης, Α.; Λαγουβάρδος, Κ. (16 September 2020). "Οι πρώτες δορυφορικές εκτιμήσεις της ολικής βροχόπτωσης του ΙΑΝΟΥ" [The first satellite estimates of the total rainfall of IANOS]. Meteo.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Medicane UDINE über dem Ionischen Meer" [Medicane UDINE over the Ionian Sea]. www.dwd.de (in German). 16 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Medicane Ianos.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cyclone_Ianos&oldid=1193092572"