Medicanes: Mediterranean hurricanes grow stronger and threaten the region’s coasts
Medicanes and climate change: Sea temperature rises 0.4°C per decade, threatening 540 million people
The Mediterranean region is witnessing growing scientific interest in the phenomenon of Mediterranean hurricanes known as “Medicanes” — powerful storms resembling tropical cyclones that form over Mediterranean waters.
This follows a series of storms in recent years that have caused significant human and material losses in several countries of the region, amid warnings that rising sea temperatures could increase the intensity and frequency of these phenomena in the future.
What are Medicanes?
This phenomenon is known as “Medicanes,” a word combining “Mediterranean” and “hurricanes.” Although not classified as full tropical cyclones like those striking tropical oceans, they share several basic atmospheric characteristics, such as strong winds, heavy rainfall, and the formation of a circular storm center.
These storms form over the Mediterranean Sea, even though the region is not traditionally considered a tropical area for cyclone formation.
Meteorology experts indicate that these phenomena occur at a rate of less than three times per year, making available historical data relatively limited and making it difficult to determine precise patterns of their formation areas or usual paths.
Destructive storms
In recent years, the Mediterranean region has witnessed several storms of this type causing widespread losses. In March 2026, Cyclone Jolina hit areas of North Africa, leaving significant damage, while 2020 and 2023 saw Cyclones Ianos and Daniel, which widely affected Greece and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean.
Cyclone Daniel was also linked to the floods that hit the city of Derna, resulting in thousands of deaths and missing persons, in one of the largest natural disasters the region has witnessed in recent years.
Specialists warn that the danger of these storms is not limited to a single country, as they can affect several countries simultaneously due to the Mediterranean’s geography and interconnected coastlines.
Multiple dangers
The most prominent dangers of Mediterranean hurricanes are the floods resulting from widespread heavy rainfall, which may extend to large areas beyond the storm’s center.
Strong winds accompanying these storms also lead to rising sea levels and significant damage to coastal areas, especially when the cyclone approaches land.
The levels of these risks are heightened by the high population density in the Mediterranean region, where hundreds of millions of people live (540 million in 2020), with a large portion residing in coastal cities and areas directly exposed to storm impacts.
The role of climate change
Recent studies indicate a growing connection between climate change and the increasing intensity of Mediterranean hurricanes, particularly with the rising temperature of the Mediterranean Sea surface over recent decades.
According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Mediterranean Sea temperatures rose by an average of 0.4°C per decade between 1990 and 2020.
Researchers confirm that rising water temperatures increase evaporation rates and available energy in the atmosphere, providing more favorable conditions for the formation of powerful storms and increased rainfall and wind intensity.
A study published in 2022 linked climate change to the intensity of Cyclone Apollo, indicating that rising sea and atmospheric temperatures contributed to increased humidity and rainfall amounts over Sicily.
Other analyses have shown that rainfall associated with Cyclone Daniel in the eastern Mediterranean and Libya became more severe due to climate change.
Preparedness challenges
Experts believe that understanding the Medicanes phenomenon still requires further scientific research, due to the interplay of atmospheric and oceanic factors influencing their formation and development.
Specialists also emphasize the importance of developing early warning systems and civil response plans, especially in coastal areas at risk of floods and storms.
Researchers say improving early prediction capabilities could help governments and residents reduce human and material losses, amid expectations that climate change will continue to impact weather phenomena in the Mediterranean region.
Read also:
