Abstract
Irene was the most destructive tropical cyclone (TC) of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season due to flooding from rainfall. This study used a Geographic Information System to identify TCs with similar tracks and examine the spatial attributes of their rainfall patterns. Storm-total rainfall was calculated from the Unified Precipitation Dataset for 11 post-1948 storms and statistics corresponding to the top 10% of rainfall values left of track were computed. Irene-type tracks occur every 6.6 years. Floyd (1999) produced the highest rainfall overall and was the closest analog to Irene, yet Irene produced more rainfall in the northeastern U.S. where higher values of precipitable water existed. Areas of high rainfall expanded as five TCs moved north due to synoptic-scale forcing during extratropical transition. However, Irene and three other TCs did not exhibit this pattern. The amount of moisture in the environment surrounding the TC, rather than storm speed or intensity, exhibited the strongest correlations with rainfall totals and their spatial distribution. These results demonstrate the high variability that exists in the production of rainfall among TCs experiencing similar steering flow, and show that advection of moisture from the tropics is key to higher rainfall totals in the mid-latitudes.
Highlights
In addition to other hazards, tropical cyclones (TCs) can bring heavy rainfall as they track over land
The amount of moisture in the environment surrounding the TC, rather than storm speed or intensity, exhibited the strongest correlations with rainfall totals and their spatial distribution. These results demonstrate the high variability that exists in the production of rainfall among TCs experiencing similar steering flow, and show that advection of moisture from the tropics is key to higher rainfall totals in the mid-latitudes
TC interactions with frontal boundaries and troughs can lead to small regions of heavy rainfall at large distances from the storm center [6]. Interaction with topography such as that which occurs near the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S can enhance TC precipitation on the windward side of the slope while restricting the spread of rainfall outward from the track on the side of the storm where the wind circulation becomes downslope [14,15]. Despite their relatively fast translational speeds when compared to TCs that are not transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, 200–300 mm of rain can fall from these transitioning systems in a 24-h period [11], which can lead to flooding and associated damage to property and loss of life
Summary
In addition to other hazards, tropical cyclones (TCs) can bring heavy rainfall as they track over land. Interaction with topography such as that which occurs near the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S can enhance TC precipitation on the windward side of the slope while restricting the spread of rainfall outward from the track on the side of the storm where the wind circulation becomes downslope [14,15] Despite their relatively fast translational speeds when compared to TCs that are not transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, 200–300 mm of rain can fall from these transitioning systems in a 24-h period [11], which can lead to flooding and associated damage to property and loss of life. Correlation analyses demonstrate the importance is the closest analog of Irene, producing a similar spatial distribution of rainfall They of atmospheric moisture for the of rainfall and distance storm track. Receiving high rainfall from TCs that are whichproduced may aid that long-term planning for TC-associated undergoing an ET over the northeastern U.S, which may aid long-term planning for TC-associated risks
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