{{Short description|Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox weather event | name = Cyclone Apollo | image = Apollo 2021-10-29 1309Z.jpg | caption = Cyclone Apollo at peak intensity on 29 October off the eastern coast of Sicily | formed = 24 October 2021 | dissipated = 2 November 2021 }}{{Infobox weather event/Storm | winds = 55 | pressure = 999 | category = TS }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | year = 2021 | deaths = 7 | damages = 245000000 | damages-prefix = > | affected = Algeria, Tunisia, Italy (especially Sicily), Malta, Libya, Cyprus, Turkey | refs = <ref name="AON October 2021">{{cite report|url=http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20211011-analytics-if-october-global-recap.pdf|title=Global Catastrophe Recap October 2021|pages=7–8|publisher=Aon|date=11 November 2021|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref> }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer | season = 2021–22 European windstorm season }}
'''Cyclone Apollo''', also known as '''Medicane Nearchus''',<ref name="Nearchus">{{cite news|url=https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=1982|title=Ο Μεσογειακός Κυκλώνας "Νέαρχος" απειλεί τη Νότια Ιταλία και τη Μάλτα|trans-title=The Mediterranean Cyclone "Nearchus" threatens Southern Italy and Malta|language=el|last1=Dafis|first1=S.|last2=Lagouvardos|first2=K.|work=Meteo.gr|date=28 October 2021|accessdate=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028183132/https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=1982|archive-date=28 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 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,<ref name="AON October 2021" /> in the countries of Tunisia, Algeria, Malta, and Italy, where the worst of the effects have been felt, especially on the island of Sicily.<ref name="Maltempo" /><ref name="Alluvione" /><ref name="5 dead" /> Damage estimates by the Aon Benfield were set at more than $245 million.<ref name="AON October 2021 "/>
==Meteorological history== {{storm path|Track of Cyclone Apollo 2021.png}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wetterzentrale.de/maps/archive/2021/dwd/DWD_1_2021102400_45.png|title=Europe Weather Map on 2021-10-24|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=24 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref> 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),<ref name="28 October map">{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211028.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-28|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=28 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2021|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028174036/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211028.gif|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Greece named the storm ''Nearchus''.<ref name="Nearchus" /> On 29 October 2021, a ship in the Mediterranean Sea passed through Apollo and measured a peak wind speed of {{convert|104|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a pressure of {{convert|999.4|mb|inHg|abbr=on}}, indicating that Apollo was still strengthening.<ref name="29 October in-situ measurements">{{cite web|url=https://www.meteociel.it/temps-reel/obs_boueebateau.php?code2=EUMDE34|title=Tableau d'observations pour le bateau EUMDE34|language=fr|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211029.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-29|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=29 October 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124203935/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211029.gif|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211030.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-30|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=30 October 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124203935/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211030.gif|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 31 October 2021, Apollo made landfall near Bayda and stayed inland until emerging over the Mediterranean a few hours later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211031.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-10-31|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=31 October 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=31 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031124816/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211031.gif|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 2 November 2021, Apollo dissipated inland over Turkey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211102.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-11-02|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=2 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211103.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2021-11-03|publisher=Free University of Berlin|date=3 November 2021|access-date=24 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124203938/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20211103.gif|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="AON October 2021" /><ref name="5 dead">{{cite news|url=https://floodlist.com/africa/algeria-tunisia-italy-medicane-floods-october-2021|title=Algeria, Tunisia and Italy – Floods Leave 5 Dead, 2 Missing|author=|work=FloodList|date=27 October 2021|accessdate=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027033227/https://floodlist.com/africa/algeria-tunisia-italy-medicane-floods-october-2021|archive-date=27 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/deadly-medicane-walloping-southern-italy-with-flooding-rain-strong-winds/1038330|title=Deadly medicane walloping southern Italy with flooding rain, strong winds|last=Gilbert|first=Mary|work=AccuWeather|date=26 October 2021|accessdate=26 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59048809|title=Catania: Two dead as rare storm floods streets of Sicilian city|author=|publisher=BBC News|date=26 October 2021|accessdate=26 October 2021}}</ref> The flooding was especially severe in the provinces of Catania and Siracusa, in Eastern Sicily.<ref name="Maltempo">{{cite news |title=Maltempo, la Regione ha dichiarato lo stato di emergenza in 86 Comuni |trans-title=Bad weather, the Region has declared a state of emergency in 86 municipalities|url=https://www.lasicilia.it/economia/news/maltempo_la_regione_ha_dichiarato_lo_stato_di_emergenza_in_86_comuni-1377297/ |language=it|author=|work=Lasicilia|date=28 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="Alluvione">{{cite news |title=Alluvione a Catania, soccorsi famiglie e automobilisti. Allagato il Garibaldi di Nesima. Acqua alta in via Etnea e alla Circonvallazione |trans-title=Flood in Catania, relief of families and motorists. The Garibaldi di Nesima flooded. High water in via Etnea and the ring road|url=https://www.lasicilia.it/cronaca/news/alluvione_a_catania_soccorsi_famiglie_e_automobilisti_acqua_alta_in_via_etne_e_alla_circonvallazione-1374608/ |language=it|author=|work=Lasicilia|date=28 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref>
==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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteoam.it/storm-naming|title = Storm naming|language=it|website=MeteoAM.it - Servizio Meteorologico Aeronautica Militare}}</ref> and was also used by the Free University of Berlin.<ref name="28 October map" /> The agency Meteo Greece named the system ''Nearchus'', after the voyager of the same name.<ref name="Nearchus" />
==See also== {{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Italy}} *Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone *Tropical cyclones in 2021 *Tropical cyclones and climate change *Cyclone Ianos – A powerful Medicane which effected similar areas a year prior *Cyclone Zorbas – Another powerful medicane which also developed in the same region in 2018
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones}}
Category:Meteorological events in 2021 Category:2021 in Italy Category:Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones Category:October 2021 in Europe Apollo Category:2021 disasters in Europe