Propagation of Cyclonic Vortices and Intense Rainfall over Indian Peninsula: Case Studies from Northeast Monsoon Season

Abstract: Four case studies of cyclonic vortices over the Indian peninsular region during northeast monsoon season are presented. It was observed that the propagation of vortices over the peninsular orography was controlled by the vortex Froude number, Frv = Vmax/(NH), where, Vmax is the maximum tangential velocity of winds in the vortex, H is the height of the orography, and N is the Brunt-Vaisala frequency of atmosphere along the orography. Strong vortices with Frv > 1 overcame the orographic barrier and crossed the peninsula. While, those with Frv < 1 were blocked by the orography. The blocked vortices remained stationary along the east coast for two to three days. In these cases, clouds formed continuously along the coast for three consecutive days. Therefore, there was intense rainfall over the coast and little rainfall over orography during this time. In unblocked vortices, the rainfall intensity showed a systematic shift from coastal to the higher orographic region within a day or two. However, significant weakening of the vortices, as well as convection, was seen as the vortex arrived over the higher plateau. These case studies will be helpful for forecasting heavy rainfall events over the Indian peninsula during northeast monsoon season.