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What are Mediterranean "hurricanes" and why are they becoming increasingly dangerous: Is Albania prepared?

2026-05-28 18:35:36Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
What are Mediterranean "hurricanes" and why are they becoming
Higher sea temperatures are significantly increasing the risk for countries in the region

In March, tropical cyclone Jolina caused extensive damage in North Africa. Earlier, storms Ianos in 2020 and Daniel in 2023 severely hit Greece and Libya. Daniel in particular caused a humanitarian disaster in the Libyan city of Derna, where thousands of people lost their lives or were declared missing.

These phenomena are unusual because they occur in a non-tropical region, but have similar characteristics to hurricanes in the U.S. The term “medicane” comes from the combination of the words “Mediterranean” and “hurricane.”

Although rarer than tropical cyclones, they can bring extreme rainfall, flooding, very strong winds and powerful waves along the Mediterranean coast. The Mediterranean region is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in the world, as around 540 million people live in the countries surrounding it and a large part of the population is concentrated in coastal areas.

For this reason, any powerful storm can have major economic and human consequences. Researchers point out that rising sea surface temperatures are creating more energy for the development of these storms.

The warmer the sea, the more evaporation is created and the more energy is transferred to the atmosphere, helping cyclones to strengthen. According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Mediterranean has warmed by about 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade during the period 1990-2020.

Although this increase may seem small, experts warn that its impact is large. An increase of just 1 to 2 degrees Celsius could bring more intense rainfall and stronger winds during storms.

In some cases, during the development of 'medicans', sea surface temperatures have been recorded up to 2 degrees above seasonal normal. This has helped to strengthen cyclones and increase extreme rainfall.

A study published in 2022 on Storm Apollo showed that higher sea temperatures and a warmer atmosphere increased humidity and intense rainfall over Sicily. Similar analyses on Storm Daniel found that climate change intensified extreme rainfall in the eastern Mediterranean and Libya.

Experts warn that adapting to climate change requires investment in scientific research, more accurate climate models and stronger civil protection plans. Improved infrastructure, early warning systems and urban planning are considered key elements to reduce damage and risk to the population in the future.

Albania faces the challenge of climate change

Our country remains unprepared to deal with such consequences of climate change. In recent years, it has been seen that even intense rainfall lasting only a few minutes is enough to flood streets, neighborhoods and entire urban areas, paralyzing cities for hours.

Depreciated drainage infrastructure and a lack of investment in water management systems significantly increase the risk. Experts warn that uncontrolled urbanization, construction near rivers, and a lack of long-term planning make the country even more vulnerable to extreme weather events.

In many cases, heavy rainfall is accompanied by road blockages, damage to businesses, and disruptions to power or public services, clearly showing the weaknesses of existing infrastructure.

If phenomena like "medicans" become more frequent and intense in the Mediterranean region, Albania will face even greater challenges in the future.


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