Mesoscale conditions favoring locally heavy rainfall under anticyclonic influence
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Abstract
Locally heavy rainfall directly affects agriculture; in addition, it negatively interferes with transportation and real state and sometimes means the loss of human lives. That is why in this research a study of cases is carried out under anticyclonic influence in the entire tropospheric column, a situation that does not favor the occurrence of precipitation. The main objective is to determine the mesoscale conditions that are conducive for the occurrence of locally intense rainfall during the rainy period in the western half of Cuba. For this, the mesoscale behavior of temperature, relative humidity and wind was determined, as well as divergence and vertical movements, from the outputs of the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model. Satellite images and radar observations were used to determine the internal structure and evolution of the storm clouds. The cases studied were developed in an environment of weak vertical wind shear from the surface up to 6 km height, with temperatures between -3 and -6ºC in 500 hPa; while the relative humidity presented high values at low levels and a decrease above 700 hPa. In addition, high values of horizontal convergence before precipitation and strong divergence towards the time of precipitation prevailed on surface, with the greatest upward movements at 850 hPa level. The convective cells observed were intense, presenting a low centroid echo of maximum reflectivity at the time of greatest intensity, which increased the efficiency of precipitation.
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