Climatology and ranking of hazardous precipitation events in the western Mediterranean area

The western Mediterranean region often suffers from the devastating effects of flooding, caused by enormous rain accumulations that sometimes resemble values produced tropical systems. Despite climatic and social relevancy this type episodes, there are some fundamental questions would still be difficult to answer today, for example: where within more cases recorded? or, which were most potentially dangerous episodes? In study, we identify, then gather unify information from, all daily events occurred 1980 2015. Using MESCAN high-resolution gridded rainfall dataset, detected each case, date affected regions recorded. Subsequently, ranked according their magnitude classified weather type. addition, flood data FLOODHYMEX EM-DAT databases used check whether precipitation episodes resulted in flooding. All is collected into a publicly available single database. Results show highest number per year recorded Languedoc-Roussillon (France) Valencian Community (Spain). greatest magnitude, associated with larger floods, present very marked seasonality, about 80% them occurring September, October November. Finally, only four types days hazardous Mediterranean. situation characterized low-pressure area at tropospheric levels eastern Atlantic, forming block pattern an anticyclonic ridge tends extend Central Europe. About 40% extraordinary configuration. As example, infamous Piedmont (Italy) 1994 episode, top 10 ranking, was atmospheric