Storm Samuel

{{Short description|Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone in 2026}} {{Copy edit|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{other hurricanes|List of storms named Sam{{!}}List of storms named Samuel||List of storms named Jolina}} {{Infobox weather event | name = Storm Samuel (Jolina) | image = Samuel 2026-03-18 0720Z.png | caption = Storm Samuel near peak intensity shortly before making landfall in Libya on 18 March | track = | formed = 15 March 2026 | dissipated = 19 March 2026 }}{{Infobox weather event/Storm | winds = 70 km/h (45 mph) | pressure = 995-990 | category = Unknown  | interval = 1  | agency = SSHWS/CIMSS | gusts = 85 km/h (55 mph) recorded at Tripoli }}{{Infobox weather event/Effects | deaths = 1 | injuries = 4 | year = 2026 | affected = Spain, Italy (especially Calabria), Libya, Egypt | refs = }}{{Infobox weather event/Footer | season = 2025–26 European windstorm season }}'''Storm Samuel''', also known as '''Medicane Samuel''' or '''Storm Jolina''', was a rare March Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone (medicane) that impacted the Central Mediterranean in March 2026. The storm was first identified as a cold-core extratropical cyclone and, on 15 March, was named Samuel by the National Meteorological Service of Andorra.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=DA News |date=2026-03-16 |title=Mixed weather expected across the Canary Islands: haze, scattered showers and strengthening winds ahead of Storm 'Samuel' |url=https://danews.eu/2026/03/16/mixed-weather-canary-islands-storm-samuel/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 17 March, the FUB gave the storm the name Jolina.<ref name=":1" /> That same day, the system transitioned into a medicane before eventually dissipating on 19 March after making landfall in Libya.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2026-03-17 |title=Intense Cyclone Causes Massive Dust Advection Over Mediterranean |url=https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/69479 |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=cimss.ssec.wisc.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Meteorological history == thumb|RGB water vapor loop of Storm Samuel traversing the Central Mediterranean Sea during the middle of March. The system began as a frontal cold-cored low-pressure area over the western Mediterranean Sea on 14 March. The next day, it was named Samuel by the National Meteorological Service of Andorra (Meteo Andorra) before being tracked by AEMET.<ref name=":18">{{Cite news |date=2026-03-18 |title=Storm Samuel, the 18th of the season, sets a record for storms in the western Mediterranean |url=https://en.meteorologiaenred.com/Storm-Samuel--the-18th-of-the-season--sets-a-record-for-storms-in-the-western-Mediterranean..html |archive-url= |work=Meteorologiaenred}}</ref> The frontal low slowly meandered in the central Mediterranean, gaining the name Jolina from FUB.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-03-17 |title=Dust storm and rain forecast as unstable weather sets in Egypt on Wednesday |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/564149/Egypt/Dust-storm-and-rain-forecast-as-unstable-weather-s.aspx |work=ahram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-17 |title=Posible medicane en el Mediterráneo central: Samuel/Jolina |url=https://www.tiempo.com/ram/medicane-mediterraneo-central-samuel-jolina.html |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=Meteored España |language=es-ES}}</ref> Microwave soundings and ECMWF model temperature distribution plots began to indicate a gradual transition from a cold-core to warm-core system and had begun decaying from its nearby frontal boundaries,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting to the core of a medicane |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Getting_to_the_core_of_a_medicane |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> thunderstorm activity followed suit through strong dynamical forcing as Samuel embedded under a pocket of upper-level cold air aloft.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Medicane Jolina/Samuel impacts Mediterranean |url=https://user.eumetsat.int/resources/case-studies/medicane-jolina-samuel-impacts-mediterranean |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=user.eumetsat.int}}</ref> ASCAT and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data began to observe a formative eye-like structure as Samuel became stationed over 17°C sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and was located in a low shear environment late on 17 March, it transitioned into a rare Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone before making landfall south of Benghazi in Libya early on 18 March.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-03-19 |title=Meet the medicane, a hurricane’s Mediterranean cousin |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/03/19/mediterranean-storm-medicane/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Prior to landfall, a 09:08 UTC ASCAT-C pass recorded 1-minute sustained winds of {{convert|70|kph|mph|round=5}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EUMETSAT - User Portal |url=https://user.eumetsat.int/resources/case-studies/medicane-jolina-samuel-impacts-mediterranean |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=user.eumetsat.int}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The CIMSS and ESA had provided sufficient evidence to confirm a transition to a medicane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting to the core of a medicane |url=https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Getting_to_the_core_of_a_medicane |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> However, it is not specified whether Storm Samuel was either a fully-tropical or subtropical storm.

== Impact ==

=== Spain === During its initial phase, Samuel produced strong wind gusts across numerous areas of Spain, with the strongest recorded being {{convert|160|kph|mph|round=5}} near Barcelona and Girona province. Wave heights near Puertos del Estado reached {{convert|13|m|ft}}. These strong winds and rough seas caused power outages across states such as Catalonia, Basque Country, and Galicia, gusts reached up to {{convert|140|kph|mph|round=5}} in some locations of Catalonia.<ref name=":18" /> Four people were injured in Spain due to the impacts related to Storm Samuel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trelinski |first=Alex |date=2026-03-16 |title=WATCH: Four people injured after Storm Samuel hits Spain - including gale-force 160km/h winds and record 13-metre-tall waves |url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2026/03/16/watch-four-people-injured-after-storm-samuel-hits-spain-including-gale-force-160km-h-winds-and-record-13-metre-tall-waves/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Olive Press News Spain |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Italy === While meandering in the Central Mediterranean, Samuel caused significant damage across Southern Italy, particularly in the region of Calabria where gale-force winds, prolonged heavy rainfall, and localized hailstorms led to landslides and widespread flooding, unofficial reports mention Calabria received over {{Convert|220|mm|in}} of rain in just 24 hours on 17 March. School closures as a result from orange alerts were in effect across much of the country, rainfall continued along surrounding regions of Italy such as Sicily and Basilicata leading to further traffic disruptions. At least 80 people in Cosenza had to be evacuated where impacts were most significant due to rockslides.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blašković |first=Teo |date=2026-03-17 |title=Landslide above Crosia homes triggers evacuations as floods impact Ionian coast of Cosenza, Italy |url=https://watchers.news/2026/03/17/landslide-above-crosia-homes-triggers-evacuations-as-floods-impact-ionian-coast-of-cosenza-italy/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=The Watchers |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Libya === Upon landfall on 18 March, Samuel brought moderate to heavy rains and wind gusts exceeding {{convert|90|kph|mph|round=5}}, causing significant flooding in and around the surrounding areas of Tripoli, stranding vehicles and individuals. Satellite analysis confirmed a massive dust advection pulled from the Sahara into the Mediterranean by the storm's intense circulation.<ref name=":1" /> One person died while rescuing people stuck in floodwaters in Tajoura.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-17 |title=Tripoli declares holiday as severe weather hits western Libya {{!}} The Libya Observer |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/tripoli-declares-holiday-severe-weather-hits-western-libya |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=libyaobserver.ly |language=en}}</ref>

=== Egypt === As the remnants of Samuel persisted inland Egypt on 18 March, lingering thunderstorms brought accompanying lightning and strong winds gusting to around 60–70 km/h (35–45 mph). Visibility was reduced to less than 1,000 meters (3,820 ft) in some areas from Saharan dust, and heavy rainfall that posed a flash flood threat across much of the Sinai peninsula and Upper Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Al-Youm |first=Al-Masry |date=2026-03-18 |title=Unstable weather across Egypt during Eid al-Fitr, with possible rainfall and flooding |url=https://www.egyptindependent.com/unstable-weather-across-egypt-during-eid-al-fitr-with-possible-rainfall-and-flooding/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=Egypt Independent |language=en-US}}</ref> Maritime conditions and navigation were disrupted off the Mediterranean coast with wave heights reaching 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft). However, no major damage was recorded.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Dust storm and rain forecast as unstable weather sets in Egypt ahead of Eid - Society - Egypt |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/564149/Egypt/Dust-storm-and-rain-forecast-as-unstable-weather-s.aspx |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Ahram Online}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2026-03-14 |title=What to know about 'Al Hussom Storm' that hit Egypt |url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/145615/What-to-know-about-%E2%80%98Al-Hussom-Storm%E2%80%99-that-hit-Egypt |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=EgyptToday}}</ref>

==See also== {{Commons category|Storm Samuel (2026)}} {{portal|Tropical cyclones}} * Tropical cyclones in 2026 * 2025–26 European windstorm season * Storm Daniel – Catastrophic tropical cyclone that affected similar areas in Libya

==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * '''Egyptian Meteorological Authority''': [https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/2/564149/Egypt/Society/Dust-storm-and-rain-forecast-as-unstable-weather-s.aspx "Dust storm and rain forecast as unstable weather sets in Egypt," Ahram Online, 17 March, 2026.] * '''AEMET''': [https://danews.eu/2026/03/16/mixed-weather-canary-islands-storm-samuel/ "Storm Samuel named by the Andorran Meteorological Service," March 16, 2026.] * '''EUMETSAT''': [https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/69479 "Satellite Analysis of Medicane Samuel (Jolina)," March 17, 2026.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuel, Storm}} Category:Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones Category:March 2026 in Spain Category:March 2026 in Italy Category:March 2026 in Europe Category:March 2026 in Africa Category:2026 disasters in Europe Category:2026 in Libya Category:2026 in Egypt Category:2026 disasters in Africa