In recent years, the Mediterranean has witnessed freakish weather conditions with the recent event, what’s being called the ‘perfect storm’ behind the sinking of Mike Lynch’s yacht (Bayesian) off the coast of Sicily, Italy. The freak storm left one person dead and six people missing, including the tech billionaire Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.
A tornadic waterspout, described as a twirling column of air and water mist, struck the yacht, worth $37 million, off the coast of Porticello. This waterspout is very much similar to the land tornado. This weather phenomenon is quite new and scientists are trying to understand it.
Dr Simon Bradshaw, Climate Council’s director of research, said they are trying to understand links between climate pollution and events like water spouts. He highlighted that extreme weather storms will only likely to become more intense and destructive.
Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, says high temperatures created huge energy, making storms more intense. He said sea temperatures in the Mediterranean are three degrees higher than average – 30C. A sudden blast of cold air and heavy storms shattered the region’s two months of intense heat waves.
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About Monday’s freak storm, Mercalli said the winds would have been about 100 km 30 years ago. This time around it’s 150 km as sea temperatures are getting higher, generating enough energy for a perfect storm. He said the powerful waterspout just lasted a few minutes, taking down the superyacht .
