On the nationwide variability of low-level jets prior to warm-season nocturnal rainfall in China revealed by radar wind profilers

Li, Ning; Guo, Jianping; Guo, Xiaoran; Chen, Tianmeng; Zhang, Zhen; Tang, Na; Wang, Yifei; Yang, Honglong; Zheng, Yongguang; Zhou, Yongshui

doi:10.5194/acp-26-3339-2026

Articles | Volume 26, issue 5

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3339-2026

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

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3339-2026

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

Articles | Volume 26, issue 5

Research article

|

04 Mar 2026

Research article |

| 04 Mar 2026

On the nationwide variability of low-level jets prior to warm-season nocturnal rainfall in China revealed by radar wind profilers

Ning Li, Jianping Guo, Xiaoran Guo, Tianmeng Chen, Zhen Zhang, Na Tang, Yifei Wang, Honglong Yang, Yongguang Zheng, and Yongshui Zhou

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3339-2026-supplement

Data sets

Data for wind profiles associated with LLJs obtained from RWP observations during the warm season (April-October) of 2023--2024 in China N. Li and J. Guo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17176759

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Short summary

Nighttime rainfall often links to low-level jets (LLJs), but we lack clarity on nationwide LLJ features. We here used a nationwide radar wind profiler network to study LLJ changes 2 hours before rainfall, covering China’s 2023–2024 rainy seasons. 56% nighttime rainfall had LLJs. The LLJs-associated heavy rain needed a rapid adjustment of LLJs’ vertical structure, especially a significant intensification within 30 minutes preceding rain. This shows the importance of LLJ in nowcasting rainfall.