Role of Midlatitude Baroclinic Condition in Heavy Rainfall Events Directly Induced by Tropical Cyclones in South Korea

Abstract

Recurving tropical cyclones (TCs) in the western North Pacific often cause heavy rainfall events (HREs) in East Asia. However, how their interactions with midlatitude flows alter the characteristics of HREs remains unclear. The present study examines the synoptic–dynamic characteristics of HREs directly resulting from TCs in South Korea with a focus on the role of midlatitude baroclinic condition. The HREs are categorized into two clusters based on midlatitude tropopause patterns: strongly (C1) and weakly (C2) baroclinic conditions. C1, which is common in late summer, is characterized by a well-defined trough–ridge couplet and jet streak at the tropopause. As TCs approach, the trough–ridge couplet amplifies, but is anchored by divergent TC outflow. This leads to phase locking of the upstream trough with TCs and thereby prompts substantial structural changes of TCs reminiscent of extratropical transition. The synergistic TC–midlatitude flow interactions allow for widely enhanced quasigeostrophic forcing for ascent to the north of the TC center. This allows HREs to occur even before TC landfall with more inland rainfall than C2 HREs. In contrast, C2, which is mainly observed in midsummer, does not accompany the undulating tropopause. In the absence of strong interactions with midlatitude flows, TCs rapidly dissipate after HREs while maintaining their tropical features. The upward motion is confined to the inherent TC convection, and thus HREs occur only when TCs are located in the vicinity of the country. These findings suggest that midlatitude baroclinic condition determines the spatial extent of TC rainfall and the timing of TC-induced HREs in South Korea.

Significance Statement This study suggests that the midlatitude flows can substantially modulate heavy rainfall events directly caused by tropical cyclones. By analyzing the 42-yr tropical cyclone–induced heavy rainfall events in South Korea, it is found that tropical cyclones and midlatitude flows strongly interact with each other, especially when the midlatitude flows meander in conjunction with a strong jet stream. Their synergistic interactions result in a poleward expansion of the tropical cyclones’ precipitation shields, leading to heavy rainfall events even before they make landfall in the country. Consequently, it is advisable to carefully monitor the midlatitude conditions as well as tropical cyclones themselves as earlier heavy rainfall warnings may be necessary depending on the former.