What is medicane

A medicane (short for Mediterranean hurricane) is a rare, hurricane-like storm that forms over the Mediterranean Sea.

Unlike regular hurricanes, which form in tropical oceans, medicanes develop in the subtropical Mediterranean, usually in autumn and winter when sea temperatures are relatively warm and upper-level air is cold.

Key Features of a Medicane
• 🌊 Origin: Mediterranean Sea, often near Greece, Italy, or North Africa
• 🌪 Structure: Resembles a tropical cyclone, with an eye, spiral bands, and strong winds
• 💨 Wind Speed: Can reach hurricane-force winds (≥119 km/h or 74 mph), though usually weaker than Atlantic hurricanes
• ☔ Weather Effects: Torrential rain, flooding, landslides, and coastal storm surges
• 📅 Duration: Typically short-lived, lasting 1–3 days
• 🔥 Rarity: Only a few occur each decade

They’re scientifically interesting because they combine features of tropical cyclones (warm-core systems) and extratropical storms (common in Europe).

Do you want me to show you a satellite image of a real medicane so you can see what it looks like?