Medicane IANOS is forecast to hit Greece in the next 24 hours, meteorologists and Civil Protection are warning. In a breaking new appearance on Wednesday evening, head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias warned citizens of the rare but extra powerful and dangerous weather phenomenon, a Medicane, that it forecast to strike initially the western parts of the country.
Mediterranean cyclone, Medicane IANOS, the phenomenon with the deep low barometric pressure, is forecast to hit initially western Greece on Thursday evening, 17. September 2020.
Hardalias warned of floods, flying objects due to powerful winds, possible power, water and telecommunications outages.
He advised citizens:
- to limit their movement to a necessary minimum
- to consider not stay at home but ask to stay with relatives or friends, to avoid any unnecessary movement
- to avoid crossing torrents, streams or flooded roads “for any reason, either on foot or by vehicle.”
- those who live in areas that often get flooded to avoid basements and even better move away ahead of the weather phenomenon.
Apart from the heavy rainfall, “Ianos” will be accompanied by strong thunderstorms and very stormy winds, Hardalias said. He announced that the areas expected to be hit by the Medicane are:
- Attica
- Ionian islands: Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca
- Peloponnese: Messinia, Ilia, Atkadia, Achaia, Argolida
- Aitoloakarnania
- Sterea : Viotia, Fokida,
According to the RED ALERT warning issued by the National Meteorological Service EMY, the main features of Ianos will be heavy rainfall, particularly in the Ionian Sea and in southern parts of the country, thunderstorms and strong gale-force winds, especially at sea.
Meteorologists underline that due to the uncertainty of forecasts in the transitional seasons and due to the present position of the atmospheric disturbance, which is over the sea, it is not yet clear what trajectory it will follow in Greece.
One of the 4 possible scenarios for 03:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept 18, 2020 by EUMETSAT via meteo.gr Red spots mark clouds tops where temperature is -50 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, it is not yet clear whether Ianos will acquire tropical characteristics or meet the requirements to be classed as a Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane), something that can’t be ruled out.
Video Sept 16, 2020: Medicane is formed in South Italy
Additionally, it is not yet clear whether Ianos will acquire tropical characteristics or meet the requirements to be classed as a Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane), something that can’t be ruled out.
Forecast by EMY: Regions affected, Sept 17-19, 2020
Thursday, Sept 17
From the afternoon: Southern Ionian Sea, the Peloponnese mainly its western parts.
Friday, Sept 18
South Ionian Sea, Peloponnese, Sterea, Attica, and Evia.
From the afternoon, in the west the weather effects will weaken in the West, while in the evening the western Cyclades will be affected.
Very strong weather phenomena in Peloponnese and the eastern mainland.
Intense rainfalls on Friday
Saturday, Sept 19
The intense weather phenomena will affect: East Peloponnese, East Sterea, the Cyclades and possibly Crete.
From noon, the phenomena in the eastern mainland and eastern Peloponnese will gradually weaken.
Sunday, Sept 20
Medicane Zorbas that hit Greece September 29 – October 3, 2018, cost the lives of four people and caused destruction in several areas.
Not one word about the cause of this “rare weather”, denying climate change because it is inconvenient to talk about…. a typical ostrich mentality of ignorant journalists!
typical troll mentality. why don’t you write an article about it to enlighten us?