Chapter 2
Climate, Climate Variability, and Impacts in the
Mediterranean Area: An Overview
H.-J. Bolle
1 Introduction
For many inhabitants in the Mediterranean basin - as in other parts of the world -
the old millenium ended and the new one started with extreme meteorological events
of in some cases disastrous dimensions. For the year 1999 the data are summarized
in the Annual Bulletin on the Climate in WMO Region VI (1999). It started dry in
Portugal as well as in the Middle East where this situation continued to early
summer. In Portugal March was extremely rainy as it was in northern Spain
(Corufia: 246 mm). Sicily had the first snow in February since 1981. The April to
July temperatures of the Spanish mainland reached their highest value since 1961
and in Portugal new maximum temperature records were measured. August was hot
and dry in southern Europe. On the lOth of August the temperatures climbed up to
45C in Catania Signorella, which is a new record. In September the weather was
very unsettled. Portugal had great damage due to flooding because the rain was
much above normal. In Valladolid it rained 106.8 mm which is the highest monthly
total since 130 years. Segovia had the highest number of rainy days during the last
century. Three severe tornados damaged Alicante, Murcia, and Granada. Up to 230
mm rain per day fell in north-eastern Italy, an event which has a statistical
probability to return every 50 years. Extreme weather conditions continued in
October. The central Mediterranean experienced temperature anomalies up to 2'C
above normal (37.4 cC in Palermo, 38.6C in Catania). In the Southeast of Spain
the monthly precipitation totals reached 400 % of normal and torrential rainfalls
occurred in the mountain watersheds of the Venetian plains and along the northern
Apennines (23 and 26 October). In November temperatures in Israel were 5C
above normal for eight consecutive days. Heavy storms led to floods and landslides
in Greece with high losses in infrastructure and crops, four people died. An
exceptionally rainy period occurred in south-western France with rainfall up to
620.2 mm in 48 hours causing estimated losses of more than 500 million € and 196
mm in 24 hours in Cagliary. On 18/19 November rainstorms with strong winds and
100 mm precipitation/10 hours went over Tuscany, inundated industrial areas and
settlements, uprooted trees and blocked roads. Also Turkey was affected by storms.
Climate, Climate Variability, and Impacts in the
Mediterranean Area: An Overview
H.-J. Bolle
1 Introduction
For many inhabitants in the Mediterranean basin - as in other parts of the world -
the old millenium ended and the new one started with extreme meteorological events
of in some cases disastrous dimensions. For the year 1999 the data are summarized
in the Annual Bulletin on the Climate in WMO Region VI (1999). It started dry in
Portugal as well as in the Middle East where this situation continued to early
summer. In Portugal March was extremely rainy as it was in northern Spain
(Corufia: 246 mm). Sicily had the first snow in February since 1981. The April to
July temperatures of the Spanish mainland reached their highest value since 1961
and in Portugal new maximum temperature records were measured. August was hot
and dry in southern Europe. On the lOth of August the temperatures climbed up to
45C in Catania Signorella, which is a new record. In September the weather was
very unsettled. Portugal had great damage due to flooding because the rain was
much above normal. In Valladolid it rained 106.8 mm which is the highest monthly
total since 130 years. Segovia had the highest number of rainy days during the last
century. Three severe tornados damaged Alicante, Murcia, and Granada. Up to 230
mm rain per day fell in north-eastern Italy, an event which has a statistical
probability to return every 50 years. Extreme weather conditions continued in
October. The central Mediterranean experienced temperature anomalies up to 2'C
above normal (37.4 cC in Palermo, 38.6C in Catania). In the Southeast of Spain
the monthly precipitation totals reached 400 % of normal and torrential rainfalls
occurred in the mountain watersheds of the Venetian plains and along the northern
Apennines (23 and 26 October). In November temperatures in Israel were 5C
above normal for eight consecutive days. Heavy storms led to floods and landslides
in Greece with high losses in infrastructure and crops, four people died. An
exceptionally rainy period occurred in south-western France with rainfall up to
620.2 mm in 48 hours causing estimated losses of more than 500 million € and 196
mm in 24 hours in Cagliary. On 18/19 November rainstorms with strong winds and
100 mm precipitation/10 hours went over Tuscany, inundated industrial areas and
settlements, uprooted trees and blocked roads. Also Turkey was affected by storms.