A tropical cyclone known as a medicane is forecast to hit Greece this weekend and could bring torrential rain and heavy winds.

Meteorologists have warned that the rare weather phenomenon – which combines the words Mediterranean and hurricane – could form on Friday in the Ionian Sea south west of the Greek mainland.

Teh medicane, dubbed Zorbas, is caused by a deep area of low pressure developing in the Mediterranean Sea and is expected to affect parts of Greece and Western Turkey.

A medicane last year, dubbed Cyclone Numa, killed 21 people (Picture: Nasa)

The Met Office told Metro.co.uk the medicane can cause up to 250mm rain over a 24 hour period which can lead to thunderstorms and flash flooding.


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Temperatures in the water are between 26 and 27 degrees at the moment, which is a degree and a half higher than what’s usual for this time of year in Greece, can play a part in how heavy the storm will turn out.



Greece weather forecasters have issued dangerous weather warnings.

The last medicane in Greece, dubbed Cyclone Numa, killed 21 people, with one still missing in the Greek town of Mandra. A further 37 were hospitalised.

Flooding triggered by the 2017 cyclone is the worst natural disaster Greece has experienced since 1977.

Gale force winds have already battered Greece this week (Picture: MetDesk)

Gale force winds have already battered Greece this week, forcing authorities to shut down ferries and schools and causing flight delays.

The strong winds toppled trees on to power lines in the northern suburbs of Athens, with the fire department saying it received more than 350 calls to remove debris.

Authorities in the Saronic municipality near Athens, on the Ionian island of Zakynthos and the Aegean islands of Tinos, Andros and Mykonos ordered schools to remain shut.

On the western island of Kefallonia, schools were evacuated near a wildfire that was being fanned by the strong winds.

Authorities described the decision as a precaution, but said the island’s emergency services were on alert as weather conditions were expected to worsen.

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