Prediction of a Mei-yu Frontal Cyclone and the Associated Torrential Rainfall over Southern Taiwan During 2008 Mei-yu Season

Abstract

A torrential rain episode (≥ 200 mm day-1) was observed over coastal regions of southern Taiwan (south of 23.0°N) on 5 June 2008 under the influence of a meso-scale frontal cyclone (MFC) formed along the western flank of a Mei-yu frontal zone. Through the incorporation of additional observations over the ocean collected during Southwest Monsoon Experiment (SoWMEX)/Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (TiMREX), the location of a Mei-yu frontal boundary, defined by the wind shift, is better identified over the open ocean by the data assimilation of dropsonde observations. Meanwhile, the low-level cyclonic vorticity and horizontal convergence are increased along the Mei-yu frontal zone, and an increment maximum center of cyclonic vorticity locates over the north of South China Sea (SCS), where the MFC subsequently forms.