Cyclone Apollo
Cyclone Apollo at peak intensity on 29 October off the eastern coast of Sicily
Meteorological history
Formed24 October 2021
Dissipated2 November 2021
Tropical storm
Highest winds100 km/h (65 mph)
Lowest pressure999 hPa (mbar); 29.50 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities7
Damage>$245 million (2021 USD)
Areas affectedAlgeria, Tunisia, Italy (especially Sicily), Malta, Libya, Cyprus, Turkey
[1]
Part of the 2021–22 European windstorm season

Cyclone Apollo, also known as Medicane Nearchus,[2] was a powerful Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone that affected many countries on the Mediterranean coast, especially Italy, in 2021. The storm killed 7 people total, due to flooding from the cyclone,[1] in the countries of Tunisia, Algeria, Malta, and Italy, where the worst of the effects have been felt, especially on the island of Sicily.[3][4][5] Damage estimates by the Aon Benfield were set at more than $245 million.[1]

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

Around 22 October 2021, an area of organized thunderstorms formed near the Balearic Islands, with the disturbance becoming more organized and developing an area of low pressure around 24 October.[6] On the next day, the low started to develop a low-level circulation center, and moved into the Tyrrhenian Sea. On 28 October, the system organized even further and intensified, which prompted forecast offices in Europe to name the low. Italy's "Servizio Meteorologico" named the storm Apollo (which was then adopted by the Free University of Berlin),[7] while Greece named the storm Nearchus.[2] On 29 October 2021, a ship in the Mediterranean Sea passed through Apollo and measured a peak wind speed of 104 km/h (65 mph) and a pressure of 999.4 mb (29.51 inHg), indicating that Apollo was still strengthening.[8] After Apollo made its closest approach to Sicily during the overnight hours of 29 October, Apollo appeared to have begun to weaken as its convection waned and its low-level circulation became exposed on visible satellite imagery on 30 October 2021.[9][10] On 31 October 2021, Apollo made landfall near Bayda and stayed inland until emerging over the Mediterranean a few hours later.[11] On 2 November 2021, Apollo dissipated inland over Turkey.[12][13]

Preparations and impact

Heavy rain from the cyclone and its precursor caused heavy rainfall and flooding in Tunisia, Algeria, Southern Italy, and Malta, killing 7 people total.[1][5][14][15] The flooding was especially severe in the provinces of Catania and Siracusa, in Eastern Sicily.[3][4]

Aftermath and naming

Some names for the cyclone include the most commonly-used one, Apollo, which was used by Italy, which used it from its naming list for the 2021-22 windstorm season,[16] and was also used by the Free University of Berlin.[7] The agency Meteo Greece named the system Nearchus, after the voyager of the same name.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Global Catastrophe Recap October 2021 (PDF) (Report). Aon. 11 November 2021. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Dafis, S.; Lagouvardos, K. (28 October 2021). "Ο Μεσογειακός Κυκλώνας "Νέαρχος" απειλεί τη Νότια Ιταλία και τη Μάλτα" [The Mediterranean Cyclone "Nearchus" threatens Southern Italy and Malta]. Meteo.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Maltempo, la Regione ha dichiarato lo stato di emergenza in 86 Comuni" [Bad weather, the Region has declared a state of emergency in 86 municipalities]. Lasicilia (in Italian). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Alluvione a Catania, soccorsi famiglie e automobilisti. Allagato il Garibaldi di Nesima. Acqua alta in via Etnea e alla Circonvallazione" [Flood in Catania, relief of families and motorists. The Garibaldi di Nesima flooded. High water in via Etnea and the ring road]. Lasicilia (in Italian). 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Algeria, Tunisia and Italy – Floods Leave 5 Dead, 2 Missing". FloodList. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Europe Weather Map on 2021-10-24". Free University of Berlin. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-28". Free University of Berlin. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Tableau d'observations pour le bateau EUMDE34" (in French). Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-29". Free University of Berlin. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-30". Free University of Berlin. 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-31". Free University of Berlin. 31 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-11-02". Free University of Berlin. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-11-03". Free University of Berlin. 3 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ↑ Gilbert, Mary (26 October 2021). "Deadly medicane walloping southern Italy with flooding rain, strong winds". AccuWeather. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Catania: Two dead as rare storm floods streets of Sicilian city". BBC News. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Storm naming". MeteoAM.it - Servizio Meteorologico Aeronautica Militare (in Italian).
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