Storm Ballos
Storm Ballos over Greece on 15Â October | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 13 October 2021 |
| Dissipated | 16 October 2021 |
| Extratropical cyclone | |
| Lowest pressure | 1,005 mb (1,005 hPa)[1] |
| Max. rainfall | >460 mm (18 in) in Ithaca |
| Max. snowfall | 15 cm (5.9 in) |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | 2 |
| Damage | A balcony collapsed in the Athens suburb of Halandri. |
| Areas affected | France (Corsica), Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania |
Part of the 2021â22 European windstorm season | |
Storm Ballos was a notable extratropical cyclone that caused devastating floods across Greece during mid-October 2021. The second storm to be officially named in conjunction with the naming list of the former, Israel and Cyprus, Ballos formed on 13 October over the Mediterranean Sea from the combination of a frontal system and a circulation which first developed, two days earlier. It then moved over Greece, before proceeding into the Aegean Sea, where it slowly weakened and dissipated by 16 October. However, despite the HNMC naming the system, the Free University of Berlin (FUB) didnât assign any name on it along with its weather maps.
Overall, Ballos caused heavy destruction in Greece, not a week after Storm Athina struck the country. Heavy rainfall caused many disruptions in transportation, along with the storm-spawned flash floods. Over 1,000 calls for help were received by Fire Brigade authorities and traffic bans were implemented to regulate traffic. Ithaca was impacted by 460 millimetres (18 inches) of rainfall, the highest in association with the system. Two more areas received rainfall higher than 260 millimetres (10 inches). In addition, Ballos also brought the first snow to the country, with Western Macedonia, with 15 centimetres (5.9 inches) falling there. Two deaths were reported in the country, all due to them being swept away by strong currents of floods.
Meteorological history
[edit]
 Tropical storm (39â73 mph, 63â118 km/h)
 Category 1 (74â95 mph, 119â153 km/h)
 Category 2 (96â110 mph, 154â177 km/h)
 Category 3 (111â129 mph, 178â208 km/h)
 Category 4 (130â156 mph, 209â251 km/h)
 Category 5 (â„157 mph, â„252 km/h)
 Unknown
Ballos originated from a circulation which developed on 11 October over Corsica.[2] On the next day, an extratropical cyclone formed in the Black Sea, with a barometric pressure of 1,005Â mbar (1,005Â hPa). At that day, the circulation over the aforementioned island entered the Tyrrhenian Sea near southern Italy, in which it attained a pressure of 1,010Â mbar (1,010Â hPa).[1] The storm over the Black Sea eventually moved northwards by 13 October, with the strengthening circulation over Italy merging over the systemâs front. At the same day, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service named the strengthening storm âBallosâ, the second from the agencyâs collaborated naming lists.[3][4] It further coalesced into a single system near Greece on 14 October, with the storm connected to a strong high pressure area, in which the Free University of Berlin (FUB) named âOldenburgiaâ before it moved northeastwards across the country on the next day and emerging into the Aegean Sea.[5][6] It then continued its northeastward movement before dissipating on weather maps by 16 October.[7]
Impacts
[edit]According to the National Observatory of Athens (ÎΞΜÎčÎșÎżÏ ÎÏÏΔÏÎżÏÎșÎżÏÎ”ÎŻÎżÏ ÎΞηΜÏΜ [sic]), torrential rains with strong gusts, snow, and even hailstorms were anticipated for the bulk of Greece starting on October 13, as the Hellenic National Meteorological Service named the system Ballos. The country's Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection convened a conference to examine the storm, as well as issuing warnings to its citizens about Ballos.[8][9] The Greek Armed Forces were also placed on alert in case additional assistance was required during Ballos.[10] Cephalonia (also known as Kefalonia) halted lessons from preschool through high school on October 14 due to the storm. Classes were also canceled in Moschato, Nea Filadelfia, Attiki, and Archances on that day.[11][12] More municipalities outside of Attica, including Nea Chalkidona, Moschato-Tavros, Heraklion, Elefsina, and Nafplio, as well as Argos-Mycenae, followed suit later that day. According to further reports, all classes in all districts of Attica were also halted as a precaution.[13][14] Residents of Attica were also given phone alerts about the storm's potential effects.[15]
On the 14th of October, rain began to fall over the country, causing significant traffic bottlenecks in Attica, particularly in Athens. Following that, one of the traffic-affected zones was restored. Flooding was to blame, according to the local newspaper Kathimerini. Meanwhile, the country's Fire Brigade Department received numerous calls for flood, water pumping, and tree removal assistance in some Athens suburbs and municipalities, the first of which was caused by the similar effect Storm Athina had on the country during the first week of October.[16][15][17] Some kids at a primary school in Nea Filadelfeia were forced to cross an improvised bridge out of their rooms due to the school being severely flooded, while a Greek Parliament building was also damaged.[18][19] Due to rapid flash floods, a route was also impassable to automobiles, and tram services were also disrupted. Many people were also stranded in their cars as a result of the floodwaters, but they were all successfully rescued by fire department personnel.[20] Numerous landslides on Crete Island also damaged and/or destroyed public roadways.[21] Due to the swath of Ballos' repercussions, Corfu Island was also classified in a "state of emergency." There were 69 persons who needed to be rescued.[22]
Residents in Arkalochori, who had previously been hit by an earthquake, were flooded by Ballos' rains, which soaked everything from their tents to their food supplies.[23] Two deaths were reported throughout the country as a result of the storm: one in Pikermi, where a person was swept away by a strong torrent of floods while crossing a bridge, and another in Tsakaioi, Karystos, where a senior citizen met the same fate; at this time, into a river.[24][25] On 24 October in the evening, the Ionian Islands had received over 490 calls for assistance, with a total of 1,164 for the entire country. A traffic ban was requested for Kifissos and Attica due to the effects of Ballos, which was later accepted.[26][27] The Fire Brigade leadership chose Corfu and Ithaca as the areas most impacted by the storm the next day, 15 October, and they worked nonstop to react to the calls in these areas.[28] In Thessaloniki, a sinkhole swallowed a bus carrying 15 passengers, while another was nearly buried by floodwaters; neither incident resulted in any deaths or injuries.[22][29] Over 30 tons of rain were also reported in the Kifissos basin, which a Natural Disaster Management official blamed on Greece's climate change.[30] Furthermore, Ithaca receives the most rainfall from Ballos, with 460 millimetres (18Â in), followed by Mount Athos with 297 millimetres (11.7Â in) and Etoloakarnania with 262 millimetres (10.3Â in). This is almost equivalent to Athens' monthly rainfall, but significantly less than the 700 millimetres (28Â in) of rain recorded in Zagora and Pelion during Storm Athina.[31][32] Along with the rain, the storm brought the season's first snowfall to Western Macedonia, with 15 centimetres (5.9Â in) falling in the region.[31][33]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Prognose 20211012". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â "Prognose 20211011". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 11, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â "Prognose 20211013". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 13, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â Hellenic National Meteorological Service [@EMY_HNMS] (October 13, 2021). "ÎÏΔÎč αÏÏÎŻÏΔÎč Μα ΎηΌÎčÎżÏ ÏγΔίÏαÎč ÏÏηΜ ÎΔΜÏÏÎčÎșÎź ÎΔÏÏγΔÎčÎż η ÎŽÎčαÏαÏαÏÎź ÏÎżÏ ÏÎż ÏÏÏÎŻ ÏÎ·Ï Î ÎÎŒÏÏÎ·Ï ÎžÎ± ΔÏηÏΔΏζΔÎč ÎșÏ ÏÎŻÏÏ Ïα ÎŽÏ ÏÎčÎșÎŹ ÎșαÎč Ïα ÎČÏÏΔÎčα, Î”ÎœÏ ÏÎż ÎČÏÎŹÎŽÏ ÎžÎ± ΔÏΔÎșÏαΞΔί ÏÏÎż ÎŒÎ”ÎłÎ±Î»ÏÏΔÏÎż ÎŒÎÏÎżÏ ÏÎ·Ï ÏÏÏÎ±Ï @GSCP_GR #ballos #warning #ÎșαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία (The disturbance has begun to form in the Central Mediterranean, which on Thursday morning will mainly affect the west and the north, while at night it will spread to most of the country.@GSCP_GR#ballos#warning#ÎșαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία)" (Tweet) (in Greek). Retrieved November 7, 2021 â via Twitter.
- â "Prognose 20211014". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 14, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â "Prognose 20211015". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â "Prognose 20211016". Institut fĂŒr Meteorologie. Free University of Berlin (FUB). October 16, 2021. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία ÎÏΏλλοÏ: ÎÎșÏαÎșÏη ÏηλΔΎÎčÎŹÏÎșΔÏη ΧÏ. ÎŁÏÏ Î»ÎčÎ±ÎœÎŻÎŽÎ· ΌΔ ÏÎżÏ Ï 13 ΠΔÏÎčÏΔÏΔÎčÎŹÏÏÎ”Ï â ΣΔ ΔÏÎżÎčÎŒÏÏηÏα Îż ΌηÏαΜÎčÏÎŒÏÏ" [Bad weather Ballos: Extraordinary video conference Chr. Stylianidis with the 13 Regional Governors - The mechanism is ready]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": Î ÎżÎčÎ”Ï ÏΔÏÎčÎżÏÎÏ ÎžÎ± ΔÏηÏΔαÏÏÎżÏΜ ÏÏÏÏÎ”Ï â ΀α ΜΔÏÏΔÏα ÏÏÎżÎłÎœÏÏÏÎčÎșÎŹ ÎŽÎ”ÎŽÎżÎŒÎΜα (ÏÎŹÏÏΔÏ)" [Bad weather "Ballos": Which areas will be affected first - The latest forecast data (maps)]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ΣΔ αÏÏÎ»Ï Ïη ΔÏÎżÎčÎŒÏÏηÏα ÎżÎč ÎÎœÎżÏÎ»Î”Ï ÎÏ ÎœÎŹÎŒÎ”ÎčÏ" [Bad weather "Ballos": The Armed Forces are on full alert]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ΣΔ ÏλΟÏη ΔΟÎλÎčΟη Ïα ÎΜÏÎżÎœÎ± ÎșαÎčÏÎčÎșÎŹ ÏαÎčΜÏΌΔΜα â ÎλΔÎčÏÏÎŹ ÏÏολΔία ÏΔ ÏολλÎÏ ÏΔÏÎčÎżÏÎÏ" [Bad weather "Ballos": In full swing the intense weather phenomena - Closed schools in many areas]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎλΔÎčÏÏÎŹ ÏÎźÎŒÎ”Ïα Ïα ΔÏÏΔÏÎčÎœÎŹ ÏÏολΔία ÏÏηΜ ÎÏÏÎčÎșÎź" [Bad weather "Ballos": The evening schools in Attica are closed today]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": Î ÎżÎčα ÏÏολΔία Ξα ÎŒÎ”ÎŻÎœÎżÏ Îœ ÎșλΔÎčÏÏÎŹ αÏÏÎčÎż" [Bad weather "Ballos": Which schools will be closed tomorrow]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎλΔÎčÏÏÎŹ Ïλα Ïα ÏÏολΔία ÏÏηΜ ÎÏÏÎčÎșÎź αÏÏÎčÎż" [Bad weather "Ballos": All schools in Attica are closed tomorrow]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- 1 2 "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎÎźÎœÏ ÎŒÎ± αÏÏ ÏÎż 112 ÎłÎčα ΔÏÎčÎșÎŻÎœÎŽÏ ÎœÎ± ÎșαÎčÏÎčÎșÎŹ ÏαÎčΜÏΌΔΜα" [Bad weather "Ballos": Message from 112 for dangerous weather phenomena]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎÎŻÎœÎ·Ïη: "ÎŁÏÎż ÎșÏÎșÎșÎčÎœÎż" ÎżÎč ÎŽÏÏÎŒÎżÎč ÏÎ·Ï ÎÏÏÎčÎșÎźÏ" [Traffic: "In the red" the streets of Attica]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ΠληΌΌÏÏÎčÏαΜ ÎŽÏÏÎŒÎżÎč ÏÏηΜ ÎÏÏÎčÎșÎź â ÎΔÎșÎŹÎŽÎ”Ï ÎșλΟÏΔÎčÏ ÏÏηΜ Î Ï ÏÎżÏÎČΔÏÏÎčÎșÎź" [Bad weather "Ballos": Roads flooded in Attica - Dozens of calls to the Fire Department]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎÎα ΊÎčλαΎÎλÏΔÎčα: ÎγΟÎșαΜ αÏÏ ÏÎ»Î·ÎŒÎŒÏ ÏÎčÏÎŒÎÎœÎ”Ï ÏÎŹÎŸÎ”ÎčÏ ÎŒÎ” "ÎłÎÏÏ Ïα" αÏÏ ÎžÏÎ±ÎœÎŻÎ± (ÎČÎŻÎœÏΔο)" [New Philadelphia: They came out of flooded classrooms with a "bridge" of desks (video)]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "Î ÎșαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ" ÎÏληΟΔ ÎșαÎč ÏÎż ÎșÏÎŻÏÎčÎż ÏÎ·Ï ÎÎżÏ Î»ÎźÏ" [The bad weather "Ballos" also hit the Parliament building]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": "ÎαÏαÏÏÎŹÎșÏηÏ" ÏÏÎżÎœ ÏΔÏÎčÏΔÏΔÎčαÎșÏ ÎÏ ÎșαÎČηÏÏÎżÏ (ÎČÎŻÎœÏΔο)" [Bad weather "Ballos": "Waterfall" in the Lycabettus ring road (video)]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": Î ÏÎżÎČÎ»ÎźÎŒÎ±Ïα ÎșαÎč ÏÏηΜ ÎÏÎźÏη â ÎαÏολίÏΞηÏη ÏÏÎčÏ ÎÎ±ÎŒÎŹÏΔÏ, ζηΌÎčÎÏ ÏÏÎż οΎÎčÎșÏ ÎŽÎŻÎșÏÏ Îż" [Bad weather "Ballos": Problems in Crete - Landslide in Kamares, damage to the road network]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- 1 2 Tasos Kokkinidis. "Man Killed as Storm Ballos Batters Greece for Second Day". Greek Reporter. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ" â ÎÏÎșαλοÏÏÏÎč: ÎΜÏÎčÎŒÎÏÏÏÎżÎč ΌΔ Ïη ÎČÏÎżÏÎź ÎżÎč ÏΔÎčÏÎŒÏÏληÎșÏÎżÎč" [Bad weather "Ballos" - Arkalochori: Earthquake victims face the rain]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎÏÎ”Ï ÎœÎ”Ï ÏÎ·Ï ÎÎÎÎ ÎłÎčα Î±ÎłÎœÎżÎżÏÎŒÎ”ÎœÎż ÏÏÎż Î ÎčÎșÎÏÎŒÎč â ÎλΟÏη ÏÏÎż 112 ÎłÎčα ÏολίÏη ÏÎżÏ ÏαÏαÏÏÏΞηÎșΔ" [Bad weather "Ballos": EMAK investigations for a missing person in Pikermi - Call 112 for a citizen who was abducted]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎΜÎčÏÏÏÎżÎœÏαÎč ÎżÎč ÎŽÏ ÎœÎŹÎŒÎ”ÎčÏ ÎłÎčα ÏÎżÎœ ΔΜÏÎżÏÎčÏÎŒÏ ÏÎżÏ 70ÏÏÎżÎœÎżÏ ÏÏηΜ ÎÏÎČÎżÎčα" [Bad weather "Ballos": Forces are strengthened to locate the 70-year-old in Evia]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎÎčÏΟγηÏη ÎŁÏÏ Î»ÎčÎ±ÎœÎŻÎŽÎ· ÎłÎčα ÏηλΔÏγαÏία ÎșαÎč ÎșλΔίÏÎčÎŒÎż ÏÎżÏ ÎηÏÎčÏÎżÏ" [Bad weather "Ballos": Stylianidis suggestion for telework and closure of Kifissos]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": ÎÎżÏ ÎșÎÏÎż ÏΔ ÎηΌÏÏÎčÎż, ÏηλΔÏγαÏία ÏΔ ÎčÎŽÎčÏÏÎčÎșÏ ÏÎżÎŒÎα, αÏαγÏÏÎ”Ï Ïη ÎșÏ ÎșλοÏÎżÏÎŻÎ±Ï ÏΔ ÎηÏÎčÏÏ â ÏαÏαλÎčαÎșÎź" [Bad weather "Ballos": Padlock in Public, telework in private sector, traffic ban in Kifissos - coastal]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία ÎÏΏλλοÏ: ΠλΟÏÏΔÎč ÎłÎčα ΎΔÏÏΔÏη ηΌÎÏα Ïη ÏÏÏα â ÎΔÏÎÏαÏαΜ ÏÎčÏ 1.500 ÎżÎč ÎșλΟÏΔÎčÏ ÏÏηΜ Î Ï ÏÎżÏÎČΔÏÏÎčÎșÎź" [Bad weather Ballos: It hits the country for the second day - More than 1,500 calls to the Fire Department]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎΣ΄ ÎłÎčα ÎČÏ ÎžÎčÏÎŒÎÎœÎż λΔÏÏÎżÏΔίο â ÎαÏÎčÎșÎź ÏÏÎżÏΔÏαÎčÏÏηÏα η αÏÏÎ±Î»ÎźÏ ÎŒÎ”ÏαÏÎżÏÎŹ ΔÏÎčÎČαÏÏΜ" [OSY for sunken bus - The main priority is the safe transport of passengers]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎÏ Îž. ÎÎÎșÎșαÏ: 30 ΔÎșαÏ. ÏÏÎœÎżÎč ΜΔÏÎżÏ ÎÏΔÏαΜ ÏÎžÎ”Ï ÏÏÎżÎœ ÎηÏÎčÏÏ" [ÎÏ Îž. Lekkas: 30 million tons of water fell yesterday in Kifissos]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- 1 2 "Storm Ballos dumps over a month's worth of rain in Greece capital". Accuweather. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "ÎαÎșÎżÎșαÎčÏία "ÎÏΏλλοÏ": "Î ÎœÎŻÎłÎ·ÎșΔ" η ÎΞΏÎșη â Î ÎżÏ ÏηΌΔÎčÏΞηÎșαΜ Ïα ÎŒÎ”ÎłÎ±Î»ÏÏΔÏα ÏÏη ÎČÏÎżÏÎźÏ" [Bad weather "Ballos": Ithaca "drowned" - Where the highest rainfall was recorded]. www.kathimerini.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- â "Western Macedonia: First snow of the season falls". Greek City Times. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.