The latest report showed that Mediterranean hurricanes (Medicane) could occur once to twice per year on average. The increasing climate-induced warming could worsen the impacts.
Reports noted the term medicanes stems from the words Mediterranean and hurricane, which is very unusual in the region.
Deadly Mediterranean hurricanes
September 14, 2023 in Soussah, Libya. A report showed that the emergence of catastrophic Mediterranean Hurricanes can happen once or twice a year on average. The human-induced climate change and global warming could intensify the storm, bringing heavy rainfall and severe flooding.
According to recent reports, storms and hurricanes in the Mediterranean can rapidly intensify due to increasing global warming and climate change concerns.
The emergence of medicanes is like hurricanes or cyclones in the Mediterranean sea. However, it moves from west to East. The strength of the storm could depend on the weather conditions and warmer ocean temperatures.
The storm in the Mediterranean is not supposedly strong, but global warming could likely supercharge the cyclones.
In 2020, the report highlighted the medicane occurred in the western Greece. The Storm lanos brought significant high winds and heavy rain to Greece, causing power outages and flooding.
Climate Change and its extreme effects
Experts noted that climate change can cause extreme global events, including hurricanes and storms. Climate change has been linked to the frequency and intensification of extreme weather events:
- Drought
- hurricanes and storms
- Wildfires
The concerns about climate change could likely cause devastating impacts on communities, wildlife and people.
As a result, the UN emphasized the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Hurricanes can likely intensify more due to the warmer ocean temperatures, helping storms to develop rapidly. Climate change could also cause excessive rainfall, bringing deadly flooding, especially for poorer communities.
Meanwhile, the dry conditions and scorching heat could help fan possible bushfires and wildfires. The weather conditions could play a role in spreading quickly in communities.
Increasing temperatures, prolonged drought and frequent hurricanes can be challenging for communities to recover, causing significant damage to jobs and food security.
Furthermore, improving weather prediction is also important for countries to inform their residents about approaching storms.
Although storms are rare in Libya and surrounding areas, medicane could unleash severe weather conditions, similar to Storm Daniel.
Libya's severe flooding and impacts of unusual storms
The death toll in Derna in Libya became catastrophic after two important dams collapsed as Storm Daniel brought heavy rain into the region. The medicane or hurricane-like storm in Libya resulted in widespread damage.
- 30,000 people were displaced in Derna City.
- At least 9,000 people said to be missing
- At least 11,300 deaths have been reported, which could likely increase in the coming days.
The flooding worsened when the two dams collapsed. Reports noted the maintenance problems of the dams, which likely caused the problem.
International efforts are also on the way to help with disaster relief efforts and humanitarian aid.
Related Article: Libya Floods: Death Toll Expected To Rise As 10,000 Still Missing
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