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Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin

by DoDo
Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 09:25:18 AM EST

Yesterday before leaving for home, I wrote that a three-week heat wave is just coming to an end. It did so in a spectacular way, and in the form of a meteorological speciality.

As part of a large extra-tropical low-pressure system, a cold front was about to sweep over the Carpathian Basin. However, the front was bent -- and it formed a loop, creating a mini-low-pressure zone, which for a few short hours gyrated itself up into a giant rotating storm system/mini-cyclone (IR satellite photo at 18h CEST yesterday):

From the diaries

The central dense overcast was about 250-300 km across. That this was something special could be sensed on the ground from an unreal darkness. The full rotation system was almost 1000 km across, but lasted only 2-3 hours.

According to one private weather station, pressure fell to about 980 mb at the center (that would be Category 1 hurricane territory in the Atlantic, albeit with stronger winds).

Rainfall was strongest just South of my hometown Budapest (83 mm), so where I lived it was pretty heavy too, it was so strong water stood 1-2 cm high on my terrace despite flowing down along one edge. Half the city was shut down temporarily (including a swimming European Championship just held here) due to such scenes:

...and this is just surface water, no swollen creek or river.

Italia Italia (the rain just hit the fans at the swimming championship):

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Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 1)

I posted this in the Breakfast thread, then realised it's diary material.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 06:07:01 AM EST

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 0)

Oh, and apologies tro Nomad for the sensationalism in the title, I know this was more like a subtropical or just extra-tropical cyclone, more driven by pressure differences than evaporation, and it would only count as tropical depression by wind power...

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 06:10:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 1)

We had some unexpected mud slides due to heavy rain fall in the northern of Sweden some days ago that resulted in this

The bank of the railway was completely undermined but curiously enough the rails stayed intact. This train

with 60 people abord manged to pass, the front wheels of the car lifting off from the tracks when it reached the other side of the collapse where it went off the tracks and stopped after 300 meters.

This road

was also completely washed away. Notice the tubes at the bottom of the picture. The normal trickle of water usually pass through those.

by high5 on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 06:48:57 AM EST

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 1)

Thanks for the train picture especially! (Thought to ask for it when you or another Swede posted the other two earlier in another thread.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 08:06:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 0)

Ah, so this has been posted elsewhere? In that case I must've missed it. I thought these pictures was a nice amendment to your diary though so I posted them here. It's a thrill to see what nature is capable off (as long as everyone stays safe).

by high5 on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 08:35:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 1)

I find it was Starvid. Yes, the pictures were a nice amendment!

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 09:19:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (none / 1)

Searching for precedents to this event, I found an even more striking example -- a mini-hurricane over the Czewch Republic on 27 June, which even had an eye:

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 02:19:54 PM EST

Re: Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin (4.00 / 2)

Another useless US export? ;)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 at 07:32:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mini-Hurricane hits the Carpathian Basin | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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