Waterspout Outbreak Environments and Forecasting in Greece

Abstract

Waterspout outbreaks are very impressive phenomena defined as multiple waterspouts successively forming in a specific area. This study presents the twelve largest waterspout outbreak cases that have occurred in the last two decades (2000–May 2023) in Greece. Synoptic data indicated a closed low (CLOSED) pattern prevailed during waterspout outbreaks over the Aegean and Ionian Seas. A variety of convective parameters were examined, including most unstable CAPE (MUCAPE), mixed-layer lifting condensation level (MLLCL), low-layer shear (LLS) and 0–1 storm-relative helicity (SRH). The Szilagyi Waterspout Index (SWI) is applied successfully and is suggested for further consideration and application in waterspout operational forecasting.

Keywords

• tornado
• waterspouts
• SWI
• ICWR
• ELGA
• storms