![]() Cyclone Apollo at peak intensity on 29 October off the eastern coast of
Sicily | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 24 October 2021 |
Dissipated | 2 November 2021 |
Tropical storm | |
Highest winds | 100 km/h (65 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 999 hPa ( mbar); 29.50 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 7 |
Damage | >$245 million (2021 USD) |
Areas affected | Algeria, 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]
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]
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]
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]
![]() Cyclone Apollo at peak intensity on 29 October off the eastern coast of
Sicily | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | 24 October 2021 |
Dissipated | 2 November 2021 |
Tropical storm | |
Highest winds | 100 km/h (65 mph) |
Lowest pressure | 999 hPa ( mbar); 29.50 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 7 |
Damage | >$245 million (2021 USD) |
Areas affected | Algeria, 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]
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]
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]
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]