Analysis of radar echo and lightning characteristics in a multi-cell hail weather event

Using Doppler radar data, 3-D lightning monitoring network data and MICAPS converntional observtation data, the radar echo evolution and lightning characteristics of a multi-cell hail weather event in central Guizhou on 5 April 2017 were analyzed. The results are show that:(1) Under the favorable weather conditions of the combination of high-altitude trough and low-altitude shear line, convective monomers were formed in western Guizhou and moved eastward, which resulted in large-scale downstream hail disasters. (2) In the process of hail cloud motion and development, hail cloud monomers showed different growth characteristics. The hail cloud monomer in the northward path belonged to the "jump" growth, while the hail cloud monomer in the south path belonged to the "incremental" growth. The "incremental" hailstorm cell had a longer incubation time, and its hail diameter and density were higher than the "jump" hailstorm cell. (3) The 5-minute variation of ground lightning frequency appeared "jump" phenomenon before hailfall and accompanied by the peak value of ground lightning frequency. The average time of peak value of ground lighting frequency ahead of hail time was 7.3 minutes. The average positive and negative lighting ratios of "jump-type" and "incremental-type" hailstorm cells were similar, but the cloud lightning ratio (Z) of "jump-type" hailstorm cell was much higher than that of "incremental-type" hailstorm cell. There was no difference in the spatial distribution of lightning occurrence between the "jump-type" and the "incremental-type". The lightning distributes in bands along the moving direction of pulse monomer. (4) The spatial distribution of lightning occurrence was basically consistent with the location of hail cloud echo movement. The hourly distribution of lightning marked the direction of hail cloud development and movement and indicated the development of hail cloud movement.