The development of a hurricane-like vortex over the Mediterranean Sea was
studied using (mainly) the UK Met. Office Unified Model. The Mediterranean
cyclone formed in the morning of 15 January 1995 over the sea between Greece
and Sicily. Strong convection was observed prior to its genesis. During the
longest part of the cyclone's lifetime, strong surface fluxes and, as a
result, deep convection existed in its vicinity. Its track was influenced
by the surface fluxes and the flow in the wider region. The forecast of the
mesoscale and limited-area models reproduced the general characteristics of
the actual system as they appeared at the surface and upper-air charts and
at the satellite imagery. The investigation of the cyclone's characteristics
gave strong evidence (including an ‘eye’ and a warm core) to support the
initial assertion that it was similar to tropical cyclones and some polar
lows. Baroclinic instability does not seem particularly important, although
the cyclone formed at the edge of a baroclinic zone. A numerical experiment
showed the vortex did not develop in the absence of surface heat and
moisture fluxes. Another experiment showed that sensible and latent heat
fluxes were equally important in its development.