Precursor dynamical factors in the local lower atmosphere of warm-sector heavy rainfall over South China: evidence from wind profiler radar observations

Li, Wanju; Sheng, Lifang; Bi, Xueyan; Huang, Zehao; Luo, Yali; Xiao, Shiqi; Liu, Chao; Yang, Yang; Wang, Jiandong; Yang, Yuanjian; Lolli, Simone

doi:10.5194/acp-26-11943-2026

Articles | Volume 26, issue 16

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11943-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11943-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 26, issue 16

Research article

|

21 Aug 2026

Research article |

| 21 Aug 2026

Precursor dynamical factors in the local lower atmosphere of warm-sector heavy rainfall over South China: evidence from wind profiler radar observations

Wanju Li, Lifang Sheng, Xueyan Bi, Zehao Huang, Yali Luo, Shiqi Xiao, Chao Liu, Yang Yang, Jiandong Wang, Yuanjian Yang, and Simone Lolli

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11943-2026-supplement

Data sets

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.bd0915c6

Global map of Local Climate Zones Matthias Demuzere et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7324909

ERA5 hourly data on single levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.adbb2d47

Download

Article (11682 KB)
Full-text XML

Short summary

Heavy rain in South China often strikes suddenly far from weather fronts and is hard to forecast. Using five years of radar wind data and rainfall records from Guangdong, we studied 226 events and found warning signs one to four hours before onset that differ by region. In the west, strengthening low-level winds drive the rain; in the Pearl River Delta, friction reshapes the surface wind; in the east, warm surface air stores energy that fuels the storm.