On 19 Nov 2013 08:56:12 GMT
"Norman" wrote:

wrote:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24996292

That's a new one !

Keith (Southend)
http://www.southendweather.net
"Weather Home & Abroad"

I haven't been following this one carefully but, from what I have
seen, I think the event was a fairly straightforward cut-off low.
These happen from time to time in the Mediterranean. I'm not sure if
use of the word "cyclone" is intended to imply a tropical type of
event or if it is used merely as an alternative to "depression".
Although tropical-type systems do occur in the Mediterranean on rare
occasions I don't think this was one of them but, as I say, I haven't
been following it closely so I am open to correction if I am wrong.

A fairly good reference to tropical-type lows in the Mediterranean
can be found at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:At...opical_cyclone

The event of Jan 1995 was particularly interesting.


Current one is nothing like a tropical storm. A quick dash through the
satellite pictures suggest it's a trough (instant occlusion?) linked to
frontal wave to the south that has caused the trouble.

The 1995 example is said to be a probable polar low and, given a sea
temperature of 16C, I don't think it qualifies as a tropical storm.

The first I saw of these Mediterranean 'tropical' storms on satellite
pictures was probably that for September '69. It was a storm that moved
north from Africa and over the warm sea developed into what looked
like a full-blown hurricane. As well as a well-defined eye it had an
outflow of cirrus, which was strongest to the north. I recall that
Malta suffered the most from this 'Medicane'.

--
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks. Mail: 'newsman' not 'newsboy'.
'Don't let old age put you off starting complicated jigsaws. If you
don't finish, it will give guests something fun to do at your funeral.'
- Bridget&Joan's Diary.