The impact of monsoon on the landfalling tropical cyclone persistent precipitation in South China

Abstract

Interactions between landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) and monsoons in South China significantly influence precipitation duration, leading to severe disasters. Previous studies have primarily been individual cases, lacking systematic large-scale statistical analysis of the monsoon and landfalling tropical cyclone persistent precipitation (LTCPP) relationship. This study quantitatively investigated the relationship between monsoonal wind intensity before TCs landfall and post-landfall persistent precipitation induced by TCs in South China, employing the ERA5 reanalysis data and the best track data of 147 TCs from 1979 to 2018. The LTCPP was characterized by the frequency of persistent precipitation events during 0–72 h after TC landfall within a 500 km radius from the TC center. TCs were subdivided into weak and strong LTCPP groups based on the category-specific median of Frequency of 24 h Landfalling Tropical Cyclone Persistent Precipitation (FLTCPP24): 2705 h for TS, 6007 h for STS, and 6419 h for TY. A South China Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Monsoon Index (SCTCPM) was proposed to quantify monsoonal wind intensity derived from zonal winds at 850 hPa over two regions located in the Indian Ocean and Northwestern Pacific Ocean, within 5 d before TC landfall. The results reveal that SCTCPM < 9 m s⁻¹ yields a 72% probability of weak LTCPP occurrence, which increases to 77% when SCTCPM < 6 m s⁻¹. Conversely, SCTCPM > 18 m s⁻¹ corresponds to an 80% probability of strong LTCPP. SCTCPM is an effective indicator for monsoonal wind that impacts LTCPP. Enhanced monsoonal winds, quantified by higher SCTCPM, result in post-landfall changes in horizontal wind speed, moisture transport, convective activity and upward motion, ultimately increasing LTCPP. This study deepens our understanding of the monsoon-TC relationship, emphasizing the crucial role of monsoonal wind in LTCPP in South China and offering valuable insights for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation.