Medicanes – Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones: what are they?
Medicanes. Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones. Websites, social media are full of these headlines – but are these systems something new? Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones are interesting severe weather events, but nothing...
Very warm Mediterranean sea – and what that means for severe weather in the autumn
We take a short look at the weather patterns across the Mediterranean in the autumn that produce severe weather and how high sea surface temperatures may affect them. Sea...
Hail world records: the biggest, heaviest, and deadliest hail
Imagine a melon-sized chunk of ice falling out of the sky? Punching a hole in your car windshield? Your roof? Breaking bone? Hail is one of the biggest hazards...
Storm chaser jargon at the beginning of storm season
In late winter and early spring, just before the start of storm season, storm chasers suffer from SDS – Storm/Supercell Deprivation Syndrome. This is a serious psychological condition, caused...
European thunderstorm climatology – north-eastern Italy is the hot spot!
Have you ever wondered which part of Europe has the highest annual number of days with thunderstorms? Or wanted to know how thunderstorm activity changes throughout the year? A...
What is a sting jet?
You may have noticed the term ‘sting jet’ used when describing deep Atlantic cyclones and windstorms over the British Isles and Ireland and parts of northern central Europe. Sting...
Heat wave health risks
The ongoing heat wave across southern and southeastern Europe is pushing temperatures in the high 30s and locally even well above 40 °C – an extended period of such...
Tornadoes in Europe: Croatia
Right next to one of Europe’s tornado hot spots – Italy – Croatia gets numerous tornadoes too! In particular, the coastal area on the Adriatic sea gets many waterspouts,...