Study of the Hurricane-like Mediterranean cyclone of January 1995

Abstract

The development of a hurricane-like cyclone over the Mediterranean sea has been studied using observational data and the UKMO Unified Model. The formation of the Mediterranean cyclone took place in the morning of the 15th of January 1995 over the sea between Greece and Sicily. Deep convection existed in the vicinity of the cyclone during its lifetime. Its track was influenced by surface fluxes and the flow in the wider region. The forecast of the mesoscale model reproduced the characteristics of the actual system. The investigation of the cyclone's characteristics gave strong evidence to support the initial assertion that it was similar to tropical cyclones and some polar lows (including an ‘eye’ and a warm core). A numerical experiment showed that the vortex did not develop in the absence of surface heat and moisture fluxes. Another experiment showed that sensible and latent heat fluxes were equally important in its development. Baroclinic instability did not seem particularly important, although the formation took place at the edge of a baroclinic zone.