North Cyprus braced for the ‘medicane’
NORTH Cyprus is bracing itself for gales and torrential downpours as a huge storm packing hurricane-force winds bears down on Turkey’s Aegean coast this weekend.
Three days of rain, coupled with high winds, are predicted from tomorrow, although Meteorology Department head Raif Buran İlker told Cyprus Today they were only expecting the country to be clipped by the edge of the rare “medicane” — a hybrid storm combining features of both hurricanes and typhoons.
Experts say only up to two of the powerful storms occur annually, usually in September or October, when colder air arrives while sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean are still quite warm.
Met office forecasters have predicted torrential rain from tomorrow until Tuesday, turning thundery on Monday.
The storm has already triggered flash flooding across Tunisia and Libya before moving across the Mediterranean towards Europe, where it was expected to pass over Sicily yesterday. There were warnings of possible flash floods in Crete, and of heavy rain in
Greece and Turkey.
TRNC aviation officials said yesterday they were monitoring the progress of the storm.
Cem Kapısız, head of the Civil Aviation Workers’ Trade Union, told Cyprus Today: “We understand that wind speeds are up to 120kph. Aircraft can handle this sort of wind speed during flight, but it could affect take-offs and landings.
“If the storm hits the Aegean coast and cities like İzmir where flights operate to Ercan airport, including connecting London flights, the worst case scenario is that there could be flight delays.
“Pilots will not wish to compromise on flight safety whatever happens, so there is nothing to worry about for passengers.”
Faik Gencer, chairman of the Yacht Entrepreneurs’ Union, said the forecast had set “alarm bells” ringing for the safety of boats and businesses in Girne’s ancient harbour.
“We have for years been talking about the state of the sea wall protecting this most iconic tourism spot in Cyprus,” he said.
“Another powerful storm could cause immense damage if the structure collapses, leaving yachts and the harbour-front shops without any protection.
“Even if this storm does not [have that effect], it is inevitably going to happen in another storm because no work has been carried out to fix the sea wall despite all our warnings.”
A spokesman from the Tourism and Environment Ministry sought to allay fears, saying the storm “would not have a negative impact” on North Cyprus.
He told Cyprus Today: “The strong winds in the weather system will have an impact on North Africa and will lift dust and humidity into the atmosphere, and rain is expected on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in our region.
“We are continuously observing the arrival of this tropical storm arrival and its route and we will advise citizens accordingly, in the form of further reports and warnings, if there is any change.”