Effects of the North Atlantic Subtropical High on summertime precipitation organization in the southeast United States

Abstract

AbstractThis study analyzes the effect of the location of the North Atlantic Subtropical High (NASH) western ridge on the daily variability of precipitation organization in the southeastern United States (SE US). The western side of the NASH, also known as the NASH western ridge, plays an important role in the variability of summertime precipitation in this region. In this study, the mean summertime position of the NASH western ridge was determined and used to classify each summer day during 2009–2012 into one of four quadrants. Composites of synoptic‐scale circulation and precipitation from mesoscale and isolated precipitation features (MPF and IPF) were calculated for each NASH western ridge quadrant. MPF contributed most (about 65%) of the total summertime precipitation and accounted for most of the differences between the four NASH quadrants. Domain‐averaged precipitation was highest (lowest) during NASH‐SW (NASH‐NW) when IPF (MPF) precipitation was strongest (weakest). The regionality of MPF precipitation maxima was generally associated with the location of low‐level jets and upper‐level troughs. For instance, positive MPF anomalies occurred across the SE US during NASH‐SW when the Great Plains low‐level jet turned eastward bringing moisture to fuel convection in the SE US. In contrast, IPF rain was distributed more uniformly across the SE US. Finally, this study revealed a dipole of precipitation that is controlled by the position of the NASH western ridge and its associated low‐level jets. In one extreme of the dipole NASH‐SE, periods are associated with enhanced MPF precipitation along the coast and offshore for days at a time, and suppressed MPF precipitation inland. The opposite pattern occurs during NASH‐NW when MPF precipitation is enhanced inland and suppressed along the coast and offshore.