User:ThePacificMan/sandbix

Hurricane Europa (Medicane Europa)
On July 28, a low pressure area over the western Mediterranean formed into a tropical depression. Advisorys were done by the NHC on behalf of Meteo France. Early on the next day the depression strengthened into a tropical and was named Europa due to the system threatening Europe. Gradual intensification continued and at 2100 UTC on July 31, Europa strengthened into a hurricane. At 0300 UTC August 1, Europa started rapidly intensifying, reaching category 2 status. 6 hours later, Europa kept rapidly instensifying and reached major hurricane status and then category 4 soon thereafter. At 2100 UTC on August 1, Europa reached its peak intensity with winds of 125 kn. Soon after, the system started weakening due to an eyewall replacement cycle and strong northerly wind shear. At 0900 UTC on August 2, Europa weakened into a Category 3. 6 hours later, the system weakened below major hurricane status and soon thereafter into a category 1. At 23:30 UTC on August 2, Europa made landfall as a hurricane near Palermo, Italy. After landfall the system weakened even further into a tropical storm. At 1500 UTC the following day the system weakened into a tropical depression. 6 hours later, Europa dissipated.