Understanding the environmental evolution of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is critical for forecasting weather in West Africa. This study investigated the thermodynamic and synoptic environments of MCSs over West Africa on 26 (storm 1) and 28 (storm 2) June 2018. Primary datasets used to assess the diurnal evolution of the storms were obtained from ERA5. The results showed a trapped gravity wave, enhanced by a well-established African Easterly Jet and monsoon trough, was responsible for the initiation of storm 1. Both storms also initiated in the presence of several moist lower (925–850 hPa) to mid-tropospheric (600 hPa) cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices, controlling inland moisture advection. The lower troposphere was moistened through moisture advection by the West African westerly jet for storm 1 and the nocturnal low-level jet prior to initiation for storm 2. For both storms, the evolution of outgoing longwave radiation showed a consistent atmosphere of deep afternoon convection. Boundary layer height increased significantly during storm evolution to support the increasing ascent of warm air. Vegetation cover differences may have also likely aided the evolution of storm 2. The passage of gravity waves from decaying storms can aid forecasters to nowcast likely regions of afternoon convection with high accuracy. Under the GCRF African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (SWIFT), these findings are crucial in fulfilling the project's aims of improving weather forecasting capability and communication over West Africa.
Osei M.A., Aryee J.N.A., Agyekum J., Ashong J., Ansah S.O., Ahiataku M.A., Baffour‐Ata F., Amekudzi L.K., Atiah W.A., Padi M., Ameho J., Yahaya B., Portuphy J. and Lamptey B. (2023) Environment of severe storm formations over West Africa on the 26‐28 June 2018. Meteorological Applications 30(1): e2109. 10.1002/met.2109
@article{Osei2023,
Title = {Environment of severe storm formations over West Africa on the 26‐28 June 2018},
Author = {Osei, Marian Amoakowaah and Aryee, Jeffrey N. A. and Agyekum, Jacob and Ashong, Jesse and Ansah, Samuel Owusu and Ahiataku, Maureen Abla and Baffour‐Ata, Frank and Amekudzi, Leonard K. and Atiah, Winifred Ayinpogbilla and Padi, Michael and Ameho, Johnson and Yahaya, Bashiru and Portuphy, Joseph and Lamptey, Benjamin},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Meteorological Applications},
Year = {2023},
Pages = {e2109},
Volume = {30},
Doi = {10.1002/met.2109},
Abstract = {Understanding the environmental evolution of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is critical for forecasting weather in West Africa. This study investigated the thermodynamic and synoptic environments of MCSs over West Africa on 26 (storm 1) and 28 (storm 2) June 2018. Primary datasets used to assess the diurnal evolution of the storms were obtained from ERA5. The results showed a trapped gravity wave, enhanced by a well-established African Easterly Jet and monsoon trough, was responsible for the initiation of storm 1. Both storms also initiated in the presence of several moist lower (925–850 hPa) to mid-tropospheric (600 hPa) cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices, controlling inland moisture advection. The lower troposphere was moistened through moisture advection by the West African westerly jet for storm 1 and the nocturnal low-level jet prior to initiation for storm 2. For both storms, the evolution of outgoing longwave radiation showed a consistent atmosphere of deep afternoon convection. Boundary layer height increased significantly during storm evolution to support the increasing ascent of warm air. Vegetation cover differences may have also likely aided the evolution of storm 2. The passage of gravity waves from decaying storms can aid forecasters to nowcast likely regions of afternoon convection with high accuracy. Under the GCRF African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (SWIFT), these findings are crucial in fulfilling the project's aims of improving weather forecasting capability and communication over West Africa.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Osei, Marian Amoakowaah
AU - Aryee, Jeffrey N. A.
AU - Agyekum, Jacob
AU - Ashong, Jesse
AU - Ansah, Samuel Owusu
AU - Ahiataku, Maureen Abla
AU - Baffour‐Ata, Frank
AU - Amekudzi, Leonard K.
AU - Atiah, Winifred Ayinpogbilla
AU - Padi, Michael
AU - Ameho, Johnson
AU - Yahaya, Bashiru
AU - Portuphy, Joseph
AU - Lamptey, Benjamin
TI - Environment of severe storm formations over West Africa on the 26‐28 June 2018
T2 - Meteorological Applications
PY - 2023
SP - e2109
VL - 30
DO - 10.1002/met.2109
AB - Understanding the environmental evolution of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is critical for forecasting weather in West Africa. This study investigated the thermodynamic and synoptic environments of MCSs over West Africa on 26 (storm 1) and 28 (storm 2) June 2018. Primary datasets used to assess the diurnal evolution of the storms were obtained from ERA5. The results showed a trapped gravity wave, enhanced by a well-established African Easterly Jet and monsoon trough, was responsible for the initiation of storm 1. Both storms also initiated in the presence of several moist lower (925–850 hPa) to mid-tropospheric (600 hPa) cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices, controlling inland moisture advection. The lower troposphere was moistened through moisture advection by the West African westerly jet for storm 1 and the nocturnal low-level jet prior to initiation for storm 2. For both storms, the evolution of outgoing longwave radiation showed a consistent atmosphere of deep afternoon convection. Boundary layer height increased significantly during storm evolution to support the increasing ascent of warm air. Vegetation cover differences may have also likely aided the evolution of storm 2. The passage of gravity waves from decaying storms can aid forecasters to nowcast likely regions of afternoon convection with high accuracy. Under the GCRF African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (SWIFT), these findings are crucial in fulfilling the project's aims of improving weather forecasting capability and communication over West Africa.
ER -
