Synoptic characteristics of an extreme weather event: The tornadic waterspout in Tivat (Montenegro), on June 9, 2018

Jovan Mihajlović,Milan Milenković,Dragan Burić

doi:10.7163/gpol.0194

Jovan Mihajlović, Milan Milenković + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.7163/gpol.0194

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Abstract

Recently Montenegro has often been faced with extreme weather events. The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed synoptic analysis of a severe weather event, a waterspout, and to confirm an indication that in most cases such events could potentially be forecasted, which is of great practical significance, since human lives and property can be saved. The paper presents the research results of synoptic and mesoscale weather conditions which created a favourable meteorological environment for a waterspout development in Tivat (Montenegrin coast) on June 9, 2018, around 01 UTC (03 CET). Based on field survey analysis, the rating of tornado intensity by the Fujita scale (F-scale) has been done by assessing the damage. The synoptic type for this situation was CLOSED-SW and was determined by a detailed examination of atmospheric circulation. The results presented in the manuscript can help decision makers in Montenegro to take certain adaptation measures (above all, in tourism and construction) in order to mitig te the negative consequences of weather extremes.

Highlights

Waterspouts are most common in the southeastern United States (Florida Keys) and parts of the Mexican Gulf (Rossow, 1970; Golden, 1977), these extreme local storms are a global phenomenon (Snow, 2020), and were registered in various parts of the Mediterranean, most often in the summer and autumn seasons (Sioutas & Keul, 2007)
The results presented in the manuscript can help decision makers in Montenegro to take certain adaptation measures in order to mitigate the negative consequences of weather extremes
Two days before the waterspout event, the outputs of global forecast models indicated a possibility of an extreme weather event during the night of 8 and 9 June, 2018

Summary

Introduction

Waterspouts are most common in the southeastern United States (Florida Keys) and parts of the Mexican Gulf (Rossow, 1970; Golden, 1977), these extreme local storms are a global phenomenon (Snow, 2020), and were registered in various parts of the Mediterranean, most often in the summer and autumn seasons (Sioutas & Keul, 2007). There are research papers dealing with the waterspout climatology in the Mediterranean region (Peterson, 1998; Penzar et al, 2001; Holzer, 2001; Sioutas & Flocas, 2003; Gianfreda et al, 2005; Bissolli et al, 2007; Sioutas, 2011; Zanini et al, 2017; Pipinato, 2018). Sioutas and Keul (2007) emphasize the fact that there is no established waterspout climatology in the Mediterranean region, partly because of the limited literature dealing with the topic, in the Eastern Mediterranean. Sioutas and Keul (2007) observed 28 cases in total in the Adratic, Ionian and Aegean Sea from July to November in 2002. Of a total of 28 observed cases, 13 waterspouts belonged to fair weather waterspouts, while 15 were tornadic events.

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