# Cyclone Ianos > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyclone_Ianos > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cyclone_Ianos.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Ianos > Source revision: 1329463057 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in 2020}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox weather event | image = Ianos 2020-09-17 1140Z.jpg | caption = Ianos shortly before its record peak intensity, nearing landfall in [Greece](/source/Greece) on 17 September. | formed = 14 September 2020 | dissipated = 21 September 2020 }}{{Infobox weather event/SSHWS | winds = 85 | gusts = 105 | pressure = 984 }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | year = 2020 | fatalities = 4 | missing = 1 (presumed dead) | damage = ≥ $100 million (2020 USD)
≥ €164 million (2020 Euro) | areas = [Libya](/source/Libya), [Italy](/source/Italy), [Malta](/source/Malta), [Greece](/source/Greece), [Crete](/source/Crete), [Cyrenaica](/source/Cyrenaica) }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer }} '''Cyclone Ianos''', also known as '''Medicane Ianos''', was a rare [medicane](/source/Mediterranean_tropical-like_cyclone) that impacted the eastern [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_basin) on 17 and 18 September 2020, especially [Greece](/source/Greece). Ianos developed from an [area of low pressure](/source/low-pressure_area_(meteorology)) over the [Gulf of Sidra](/source/Gulf_of_Sidra) that quickly began [tropical cyclogenesis](/source/tropical_cyclogenesis) while moving over warm waters. After receiving various names from different meteorological centers, the storm, dubbed ''Ianos'' by the METEO unit of the [National Observatory of Athens](/source/National_Observatory_of_Athens),{{cite web|url=https://www.meteo.gr/namedstorms.cfm|title=Ονοματοδοσία χαμηλών βαρομετρικών / διαταραχών|trans-title=Naming barometric lows / disturbances|language=Greek|publisher=[National Observatory of Athens](/source/National_Observatory_of_Athens)|date=2021|access-date=12 August 2021}} rapidly intensified while moving northeastward. After scraping [Italy](/source/Italy), the storm went on to strike [Malta](/source/Malta) and [Crete](/source/Crete) with tropical storm-force winds. Despite land interaction, the small cyclone reached its peak intensity of {{convert|159|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} with wind gusts up to {{convert|195|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on 18 September,{{cite journal |author1=Lagouvardos, K.|author2=Karagiannidis, A.|author3=Dafis, S.|author4=Kalimeris, A.|author5=Kotroni, V.|title=Ianos - A hurricane in the Mediterranean |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |volume=102|issue=9|pages=E1621–E1636|publisher=[American Meteorological Society](/source/American_Meteorological_Society)|date=28 September 2021|doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0274.1|s2cid=244187015 |doi-access=free}} equivalent to a [Category 2 hurricane](/source/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_scale) on the [Saffir–Simpson scale](/source/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_scale), immediately before making landfall in southwestern Greece. After landfall, Ianos turned back out to sea and moved south-southeastward, before dissipating on 21 September. Damage was severe in Greece, with cities in the central part of the country getting the brunt of the storm's impacts. Cities such as [Karditsa](/source/Karditsa) and [Mouzaki](/source/Mouzaki) were flooded for several days. Heavy agricultural damage was reported in rural areas north of [Athens](/source/Athens). A state of emergency was declared for the islands of [Ithaca](/source/Ithaca_(island)), [Kefalonia](/source/Kefalonia), and [Zakynthos](/source/Zakynthos). Four people were killed, and one person remains missing. Ianos caused at least $100 million (2020 USD) in damages.{{cite web|title=Global Catastrophe Recap - September 2020|url=http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com//Documents/20200810_analytics-if-september-global-recap.pdf|work=Aon Benfield|date=8 October 2020|access-date=9 October 2020|page=6|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008154255/http://thoughtleadership.aonbenfield.com//Documents/20200810_analytics-if-september-global-recap.pdf|url-status=dead}} ==Meteorological history== {{Storm path|Ianos 2020 track.png}} An [upper-level low](/source/upper-level_low) moved eastward in the southern [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) through 14 September. On that day, a [low-pressure area](/source/low-pressure_area) began to develop over the [Gulf of Sidra](/source/Gulf_of_Sidra), beginning [tropical cyclogenesis](/source/tropical_cyclogenesis) by forming a [warm core](/source/warm-core_low) at the surface.{{cite web|last=Korošec|first=Marko|url=https://www.severe-weather.eu/outlooks-day1/severe-weather-outlook-medicane-ianos-mk/|title=Severe Weather Outlook for Medicane Ianos – Sept 17–19th, 2020|website=severe-weather.eu|date=16 September 2020|access-date=23 September 2020}} The cyclone quickly developed in the subsequent hours while slowly moving northwest, with a wind speed of around {{convert|50|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. By 15 September, it had intensified to {{convert|65|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, with a minimum pressure of {{convert|1010|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}, with further development predicted over the coming days. The cyclone had strong potential to become tropical over the next several days due to warm sea temperatures of {{convert|27|to|28|C|F|abbr=on}} in the region. Weather models predicted that it would likely hit the west coast of Greece on 17 or 18 September. Ianos gradually intensified over the [Ionian Sea](/source/Ionian_Sea), acquiring an [eye-like feature](/source/eye_(cyclone)). Ianos made landfall on Greece at peak intensity on 03:00 UTC on 18 September, with winds peaking near {{convert|159|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and a minimum central pressure estimated at {{convert|984.3|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}}, equivalent to a [Category 2 hurricane](/source/Category_2_hurricane).{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/09/17/medicane-storm-greece/ |title=A strong 'medicane' named Ianos is forecast to bring hurricane-like conditions to Greece |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 September 2020}}{{cite report|title=Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin |url=https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/cj82k728n/r781x571v/7h14bc86h/wwcb3820.pdf#page=28 |volume=107 |issue=34 |website=usda.library.cornell.edu |publisher=[United States Department of Agriculture](/source/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture) |page=28 |date=22 September 2020 |access-date=24 September 2020}} After making landfall, Ianos turned south-southeastward on 19 September, moving back out to sea,{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200919.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-19|publisher=[Free University of Berlin](/source/Free_University_of_Berlin)|date=19 September 2020|access-date=9 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109060506/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200919.gif|url-status=dead}} where the storm managed to reorganize somewhat. Soon afterward, Ianos underwent a weakening trend. Ianos continued moving south-southeastward for another couple of days before dissipating on 21 September, off the coast of [Cyrenaica](/source/Cyrenaica).{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200920.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-20|publisher=[Free University of Berlin](/source/Free_University_of_Berlin)|date=20 September 2020|access-date=9 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109060518/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200920.gif|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200921.gif|title=Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-9-21|publisher=[Free University of Berlin](/source/Free_University_of_Berlin)|date=21 September 2020|access-date=9 October 2020|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109060523/http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20200921.gif|url-status=dead}} Warmer [sea surface temperature](/source/sea_surface_temperature)s caused by [climate change](/source/climate_change) in the [Mediterranean Sea](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) can allow the storms to take on more tropical appearances and characteristics, increasing the wind speeds and making the storms more intense.{{cite news |publisher=[AlJazeera](/source/Al_Jazeera_Media_Network) |title=Storm Ianos: Three dead as rare 'medicane' batters Greece |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/20/storm-ianos-three-dead-as-rare-medicane-batters-greece/ |website=www.aljazeera |date=20 September 2020 |access-date=2020-09-24 }} A 2017 study in Global and Planetary Change led by Raquel Romera examined a large suite of regional climate model projections, which supported the theory that medicanes will gradually become stronger due to [climate change](/source/climate_change).{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Jeff |last2=Henson |first2=Bob |date=18 September 2020 |title=A slew of weather events – including two named storms troubling Europe – pose challenges far and wide » Yale Climate Connections |url=https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/09/a-slew-of-weather-events-including-two-named-storms-troubling-europe-pose-challenges-far-and-wide/ |access-date=24 September 2020 |website=Yale Climate Connections}} ==Preparations and impact== [[File:Alpha and Ianos 2020-09-18.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[Subtropical Storm Alpha](/source/Subtropical_Storm_Alpha_(2020)) (left) and Cyclone Ianos (right) both affecting Europe on 18 September.]] As Ianos passed to the south of [Italy](/source/Italy) on 16 September, it produced heavy rain across the southern part of the country and in [Sicily](/source/Sicily). As much as {{convert|35|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain was reported in [Reggio Calabria](/source/Reggio_Calabria), more than the city's normal monthly rainfall. The [Hellenic National Meteorological Service](/source/Hellenic_National_Meteorological_Service) issued Red Alerts, the highest level of warnings, to alert people of the storm while it was approaching Greece.{{cite web |date=2020-09-18 |title=Medicane hits Greece |url=https://wmo.int/media/news/medicane-hits-greece |access-date=2020-09-24 |website=World Meteorological Organization}} Downed trees and power outages were reported on Kefalonia, and residents were urged to stay indoors. Wind gusts reached {{convert|195|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} on Kefalonia and Zakynthos. When Ianos stalled over the western part of Greece, it caused flash flooding and landslides. The peak official rainfall amount recorded was {{convert|644.7|mm|in|abbr=on}}, in Kefalonia. Ianos left four people dead and one missing. On 19 September, a man was found dead on his farm north of [Athens](/source/Athens), while the body of a woman was recovered from her flooded home in a nearby town. On 20 September, the body of a 62-year-old farmer was found under the collapsed roof of his house in a village north of Athens. In addition, a 43-year-old woman was found dead on 24 September after being declared missing on 20 September. The woman was swept several kilometres from her car by [flash flood](/source/flash_flood)ing.{{cite news |publisher=[Greek Reporter](/source/Greek_Reporter) |last=Wichmann |first=Anna |title=Woman Missing after Karditsa Flooding Found Dead |url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/09/24/woman-missing-after-karditsa-flooding-found-dead/ |website=greece.greekreporter.com |date=24 September 2020 |access-date=2020-09-24}} More than 5,000 homes were damaged.{{cite news |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54219180 |title=Cyclone Ianos: Three dead as 'medicane' sweeps across Greece |date=21 September 2020 |access-date=23 September 2020}} In addition, there were strong tides in Ionian islands such as [Kefalonia](/source/Kefalonia), [Zakynthos](/source/Zakynthos), [Ithaca](/source/Ithaca_(island)) and [Lefkada](/source/Lefkada), and {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} winds at [Karditsa](/source/Karditsa) that brought down trees and power lines, and caused landslides. A bridge also collapsed in Karditsa, one of the hardest-hit areas.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54219180 |title=Cyclone Ianos: Two dead as 'medicane' sweeps across Greece |work=BBC News |date=20 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020}} Throughout the country, over 600 people were rescued by the national firefighting service.{{cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/17/cyclone-ianos-greek-authorities-issue-warning-for-rare-extreme-weather-phenomenon |title=Cyclone Ianos: Two dead and one missing after 'rare extreme weather phenomenon' hits Greece |website=euronews.com |date=19 September 2020|access-date=20 September 2020}} Greece's [cotton](/source/cotton) crop was ready for harvest, which was set to begin just as the storm hit. However, Ianos likely caused significant flooding and crop losses where rain was heaviest, especially in [Thessalia](/source/Thessalia). [Assos](/source/Asos), in [Kefalonia](/source/Kefalonia), was isolated from the rest of the island and the mainland. Nearly {{convert|2|m|ft|spell=in}} of rubble covered roads, prohibiting access by car and trapping residents and tourists. The cost of removing the rubble was estimated at more than €50,000 ($58,555 [USD](/source/USD)).{{cite web|publisher=Greek City Times|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/09/20/kefalonia-needs-your-help-after-devastating-hurricane-like-storm/|title=Kefalonia needs your help NOW after devastating hurricane-like storm|date=23 September 2020|website=greekcitytimes.com|access-date=2020-09-30}} ==Aftermath and naming== On 20 September, the [Public Power Corporation](/source/Public_Power_Corporation) reported that 61 power substations were in operation in the urban zone of [Karditsa](/source/Karditsa), and another 10 would be powered shortly. Efforts were made to restore power in [Argithea](/source/Argithea) and [Mouzaki](/source/Mouzaki). The top officials of the corporation met with the leader of the Karditsa Fire Department to coordinate and accelerate water pumping in areas where the technical crews needed to work. [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece) [Kyriakos Mitsotakis](/source/Kyriakos_Mitsotakis) pledged that "all the affected areas will have immediate support." He sent three senior officials to the worst-hit central region. On 22 September, Prime Minister Mitsotakis visited the Karditsa region, one of the hardest-hit regions. 5,000 to 8,000 [euro](/source/euro)s were given to each household and business in Karditsa and [Mouzaki](/source/Mouzaki).{{cite news|publisher=[Greek Reporter](/source/Greek_Reporter)|last=Claus|first=Patricia|title=PM Mitsotakis Tours Devastated Karditsa Area, Promises Swift Aid|url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/09/22/pm-mitsotakis-tours-devastated-karditsa-area-promises-swift-aid/|date=22 September 2020 |website=greece.greekreporter.com|access-date=2020-09-24}} In Mouzaki, Mayor Fanis Stathis declared that all schools and nurseries will remain closed, as Ianos damaged the road network, and school buildings of the region.{{cite news|publisher=The National Herald (Greece)|title=Mitsotakis to Visit Karditsa after "Ianos" Hurricane Damage|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece_politics/arthro/mitsotakis_to_visit_karditsa_after_ianos_hurricane_damage-879213/|date=20 September 2020|website=thenationalherald.com|access-date=2020-09-25|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109060000/https://www.thenationalherald.com/greece_politics/arthro/mitsotakis_to_visit_karditsa_after_ianos_hurricane_damage-879213/|url-status=dead}} Greece assigned the system the name "Ianos" ({{lang|el|Ιανός}}),{{cite web |last1=Καραγιαννίδης |first1=Α. |last2=Λαγουβάρδος|first2=Κ.|date=16 September 2020|title=Οι πρώτες δορυφορικές εκτιμήσεις της ολικής βροχόπτωσης του ΙΑΝΟΥ|trans-title=The first satellite estimates of the total rainfall of IANOS|url=http://www.meteo.gr/?entryID=1481|access-date=24 September 2020|website=Meteo.gr|language=el}} sometimes anglicized to "Janus",{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Maura |title=Storm Janus develops into medicane, will wallop Greece with flooding rain, strong winds |url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/storm-janus-develops-into-medicane-will-wallop-greece-with-flooding-rain-strong-winds/813740 |website=AccuWeather |date=16 September 2020|access-date=16 September 2020}} while the German weather service used the name "Udine";{{cite news |title= Medicane UDINE über dem Ionischen Meer |trans-title=Medicane UDINE over the Ionian Sea |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/wetter/thema_des_tages/2020/9/16.html |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=www.dwd.de |date=16 September 2020 |language=de}} the Turkish used "Tulpar". ==See also== {{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Greece}} *[Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone](/source/Mediterranean_tropical-like_cyclone) *[Tropical cyclones in 2020](/source/Tropical_cyclones_in_2020) *[Tropical cyclones and climate change](/source/Tropical_cyclones_and_climate_change) *[Tropical Storm Rolf](/source/Tropical_Storm_Rolf) (2011) – The first tropical storm in the Mediterranean to be recognized by an official government agency *[Cyclone Qendresa](/source/Cyclone_Qendresa) (2014) – One of the strongest Mediterranean tropical cyclones ever recorded *[Cyclone Numa](/source/Cyclone_Numa) (2017) – Another powerful Medicane that affected western Greece *[Cyclone Zorbas](/source/Cyclone_Zorbas) (2018) – A powerful Medicane that also struck Greece two years before Ianos *[Subtropical Storm Alpha (2020)](/source/Subtropical_Storm_Alpha_(2020)) – A North Atlantic subtropical cyclone that coincided with Ianos and made landfall in Portugal ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.emy.gr/emy/en/ Hellenic National Meteorological Service] * [http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/imagery/neatl.html Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Imagery] – NOAA * [https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/wwcb.pdf#page=28 ''Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin'', Volume 107, No. 38, September 22, 2020], p. 28—the [U.S. Department of Agriculture](/source/U.S._Department_of_Agriculture) (USDA) and [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration)'s (NOAA) report on Medicane Ianos and Subtropical Storm Alpha. * [https://www.eumetsat.int/medicane-over-ionian-sea-causes-storms-italy-and-greece#:~:text=During%20the%20evening%20of%2017,travelled%20across%20mainland%20of%20Greece. Medicane Over Ionian Sea Causes Storms in Italy and Greece] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813215211/https://www.eumetsat.int/medicane-over-ionian-sea-causes-storms-italy-and-greece#:~:text=During%20the%20evening%20of%2017,travelled%20across%20mainland%20of%20Greece. |date=13 August 2021 }} – [EUMETSAT](/source/EUMETSAT) case study. {{Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ianos}} Category:2020 in Greece Category:Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones Category:September 2020 in Europe Category:Tropical cyclones in 2020 Category:2020 disasters in Europe Category:Floods in Greece --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cyclone Ianos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Ianos) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Ianos?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.