Saharan dust covers Crete as storm causes chaos
Large parts of the Mediterranean have been hit by severe weather this week as Storm Erminio brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and occasional hail across Greece on Wednesday and Thursday. The most intense conditions affected south-eastern mainland regions and several islands in the southern Aegean, including Crete, where flooding left streets underwater and vehicles stranded.
One of the heaviest rainfall totals was recorded in Attica, the region that includes Athens. A weather station near the capital’s international airport measured 132mm (5.2 inches) of rain within 24 hours. Overnight downpours were particularly severe in the coastal town of Nea Makri, where an unofficial station reported around 50mm of rain in just two hours. Tragically, one man died after reportedly being swept away by floodwaters as he attempted to escape from his basement home.
Strong gale-force winds moving through the Aegean Sea added to the disruption, toppling trees and forcing the cancellation of several ferry routes. These winds also carried large amounts of Saharan dust from northern Africa, covering Crete in dense orange-red clouds and reducing visibility.
Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, south-eastern Italy experienced heavy rainfall that caused rivers to overflow. In the higher elevations of the southern Apennines, precipitation fell as snow, leading to unusually large accumulations for this time of year. Some mountain areas recorded up to 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) of fresh snowfall, with powerful winds creating deep snowdrifts. Avalanche warnings have been issued in parts of the Marche region.
Meanwhile, prolonged rainfall has also been affecting parts of central and southern Asia over the past week, triggering widespread flooding. In eastern Afghanistan, more than 100mm of rain has fallen since the start of April, and forecasts indicate further heavy rain is expected in the coming days.
