Mesoscale analysis of a snowstorm event occurred in east Hubei province in January 2010

Based on conventional surface and upper data and reanalysis data from NCEP/GFS, a meso-scale analysis of a snowstorm occurred in the eastern Hubei province from January 5 to 6 in 2010 was made. The results show the following. It is the main synoptic background to generate the snowstorm that dry and cold air behind northern branch trough joins southwest warm and wet airflow in front of southern branch trough at 500 hPa and low vortex at 850 hPa moves eastward and develops. The favorable spatial configuration of synoptic systems has a significant prediction indication for snowstorm forecast including upper jet at 200 hPa, southwest jet at 700 hPa, the Northeast China jet at 925 hPa, convergence zone at 850 hPa, dew-point front at 700 hPa and 850hPa,secondary circulation caused by frontogenesis, vertical wind shear that the wind rotated clockwise strongly with altitude and mesoscale convergence zone in ground layer. In addition, three-dimensional physical model of the snowstorm event is summarized based on the above researches.