Episode 22, 13 November 2019
Analysis
Description
Meteorological background
Between 10 and 15 November, three cyclones passed over the Adriatic, driven by a wide upper-level trough in western Europe and a pronounced ridge in the east. These conditions caused persistent moderate to strong SE winds over the Adriatic. On 10 November, a cyclone developed in the western Mediterranean, deepening as it moved toward Sardinia and the Tyrrhenian Sea, intensifying SE winds over the Adriatic by 12 November, with hurricane-force gusts in some areas. The cyclone reached the Adriatic on 13 November, bringing strong gale-force winds before weakening, as the pressure gradient decreased. By 14 November, the cyclone had moved eastward, and a new cyclone developed in the Gulf of Lion, moving toward the Gulf of Genoa and northeastward. On 15 November, its stationary frontal system maintained a strong SE wind over the Adriatic.
Sea-level evolution
On 13 November, at 06:00 UTC, sea level in Bakar rose to 99 cm above long-term mean. During this maximum, tide had semidiurnal spring-tide character, contributing 27 cm. Although the residual sea level and synoptic component peaked on 12 November, no subsequent ~21.5-hour oscillations were observed, indicating synoptic component was dominated by a storm surge, which contributed 21 cm.
The remaining sea-level rise resulted from processes acting on other time scales (refer to Figure 1 in the Introduction for detailed explanations). Local processes had minimal impact, adding only 2 cm, long-period sea-level variability added 22 cm, and mean sea-level changes contributed 27 cm.
The flood resulted from a combination of contributing processes, with all components—except local processes—playing significant and nearly equal roles.
Newspapers reports
Here is an excerpt from report about the flood from Novi list and Slobodna Dalmacija.
YESTERDAY, RIJEKA DEFIES THE SIROCCO AND THE RAIN.
Firefighters rescued children from the playground near the market
The Rijeka fire department had one intervention – rescuing children from a playroom on Rijeka’s market square. Granted, that was the day before yesterday, in the evening. And that would be all – because it is well known that there is not much you can do on the market when it is flooded because the terrain is such that it is contained.
– “Rijeka plus”, which manages the markets in Rijeka, has also not received a single report of material damage. At the main market in Rijeka, the first and second pavilions, as well as the stalls in the part of Verdijeva Street that was not under water, functioned properly, while the fish market pavilion was open until 10 a.m. because customers could not get there, according to the company’s response.
– The main market in Rijeka is maintained every day, the drains in the area of the market and the sewage system are emptied regularly. Unfortunately, we cannot influence the weather as the market is below sea level. In case of heavy rainfall and strong southerly winds, the sea level will rise and the streets around the market will be flooded, says Rijeka plus and asks citizens for patience and understanding.
The municipal market will be open during normal opening hours today, unless there are extreme weather conditions with heavy rainfall.
OMIŠ IN BOOTS
“You go to bed in Omiš and wake up in Venice.” This is exactly what Wednesday morning looked like in the city under Mirabella, which woke up under water.
Due to the high water level and rising sea level, the main beach of Omiš was under water, while the river Cetina overflowed the bridge and flooded the historic old town, where passage was only possible in knee-high rain boots. The volunteer firefighters of the Omiš fire department had numerous interventions in the area. There were not many damaged boats, but many broken trees, landslides, flooded streets, stores and restaurants. The commander of the Omiš volunteer fire department says that he has never experienced anything like this in the twenty years of his professional life. While the citizens of Omiš wait in line for the fire department to arrive, they pump the water out of the stores and restaurants themselves.