Days before autumn... an unprecedented rainstorm and record amounts of rainfall hit the central Mediterranean!

Arab Weather - Today marks the anniversary of one of the most devastating and deadly natural disasters the Mediterranean has ever seen. We're talking about the devastating storm "Daniel," which swept across the Balkans and western Turkey before hitting the eastern coast of Libya with a wave of torrential rains and unprecedented destruction. Thousands were killed and missing, and a catastrophic scene revealed the fragility of dams and coastal terrain in the face of the force of nature. So what happened just days before the onset of autumn?

Storm and record rainfall in the Balkans

The story began on September 4, with the formation of a strong low-pressure system in the central Mediterranean, which brought heavy rains to the Balkan countries, including Greece, western Turkey, and Istanbul. Rainfall exceeded 800 mm in some Greek regions, the highest levels since 1930, and caused devastating floods that claimed the lives of many people.

Storm transition and tropical characteristics

Between September 8 and 9, the depression acquired tropical characteristics over the open sea between Crete and the coasts of Libya and Italy. This was a result of the combination of cold air in the upper atmosphere and warm air coming from the south. This interaction triggered a severe atmospheric disturbance, with thunderstorms and strong winds circling the center of the depression. Satellite images showed the storm as a complete tropical system, with a closed eye forming around the center.

Derna disaster: Dam collapses and massive floods

Storm Daniel made landfall on Libya's eastern coast on Sunday morning, September 10, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that caused massive flooding that devastated coastal cities such as Derna, Bayda, Marj, Shahat, and Susa. The collapse of the Great Wadi Derna Dam, followed by a second dam, exacerbated the disaster, as the steep terrain pushed water from the highlands rapidly downstream into the valley, submerging the narrow coastal cities. These floods resulted in more than 5,000 deaths and thousands more missing and injured, leaving a catastrophic impact on Libya's modern history.

The storm's impact extends to Egypt and the Levant.

On September 11, the remnants of the storm reached northwestern Egypt, bringing dust storms and limited rainfall, without disrupting daily life. While the system weakened near the borders of Palestine, cold, humid air masses brought atmospheric instability to the eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. Jordan and Palestine experienced scattered showers of rain accompanied by dust, while the impact was relatively stronger in the northern Gaza Strip, with some flooding.