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Medicane cools the waters of central Mediterranean to colder than average

The medicane that affected the central Mediterranean caused a major change in the sea surface temperature. While the central Mediterranean was significantly warmer than average before the medicane, it is now significantly colder than average.

Strong upwelling of deeper, cooler water through wind and wave action of the medicane has mixed surface waters and cooled them. While the Mediterranean was significantly warmer than the long-term average before the medicane, it cooled strongly due to the medicane. Now the central Mediterranean is significantly cooler than average: 1 to 2.5 °C below average, a cooling of 3-4 °C. Also note the cooled central Aegean sea, along the track of the medicane.

Mediterranean sea surface temperature anomaly on September 25, compared with 1982-2012 average. Data: CNR MED. Map by our co-admin Andrej Flis.

Mediterranean sea surface temperature anomaly on October 1, compared with 1982-2012 average. Data: CNR MED. Map by our co-admin Andrej Flis.

Note also that the Adriatic sea has cooled considerably: the effect of upwelling and mixing caused by strong Bora winds.

More about the Medicane

Evening update on the Medicane: landfall in Peloponnese tomorrow afternoon, Sept 29th

Medicane hits Peloponnese peninsula, Greece with intense winds, torrential rainfall, flash floods and tornadoes – September 29, 2018

Medicane aftermath in Greece and Turkey: severe winds, torrential rainfall, major flooding and tornadoes


More about Medicanes

Medicane – Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones: what are they?