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These tropical-like cyclones are called Mediterranean hurricanes or medicanes (this term is used hereafter). Although there are many similarities between medicanes and tropical cyclones, there are also clear differences between them. Firstly, the lifetime of medicanes is shorter than most tropical cyclones. Secondly, the development of tropical cyclones generally requires that sea surface temperatures (SSTs) exceed the empirical threshold of 26 ◦C. However, SSTs in the Mediterranean Sea are almost never this warm, with autumn and winter SSTs varying from around 18 to 23 ◦C in the current climate (e.g. Shaltout and Omstedt, 2014; Fig. 2a). This is much lower than the empirical threshold of 26 ◦C for tropical cyclone formation and the occurrence of tropical cyclones over such cold SSTs is very rare even in the tropics (cf. Pacific and Atlantic cold tongue; e.g. Jin, 1996; Caniaux et al., 2011). Another difference between medicanes and tropical cyclones is that the formation of medicanes is generally triggered by an intrusion of trough-like systems or cut-off lows over the Mediterranean

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Breaking them down:

1. "Firstly, the lifetime of medicanes is shorter than most tropical cyclones."

The lifetime of a Tropical Cyclone does not bear on whether or not it is a Tropical Cyclone. While it is true that most Medicanes in their tropical phase are shorter-lived than most TCs in other basins, the same can be said of many TCs in other basins, particularly the North Atlantic.

That they are shorter-lived than "most" TCs around the world is just irrelevant.

2. "Secondly, the development of tropical cyclones generally requires that sea surface temperatures (SSTs) exceed the empirical threshold of 26 ◦C."

This is also simply not correct. Many Tropical Cyclones, especially those that develop from disturbances other than Easterly African Waves (AEWs), form over waters at or below 26 ◦C.

3. "Another difference between medicanes and tropical cyclones is that the formation of medicanes is generally triggered by an intrusion of trough-like systems or cut-off lows"

It's as if the study authors never heard about "home-grown" Tropical Cyclones, which occur in all hurricane basins to greater or lesser extents. It doesn't matter the source disturbance. Once a cyclone has transitioned into a Tropical Cyclone, it is by definition, a Tropical Cyclone.

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