Moisture Supply, Jet, and Silk-Road Wave Train Associated with the Prolonged Heavy Rainfall in Kyushu, Japan in Early July 2020

A prolonged heavy rainfall event occurred in Kyushu in early July 2020. Its large-scale environmental factors are investigated with observational and reanalysis data. Seven-day precipitation and moisture flux convergence around Kyushu were the greatest among the last 30 years. This pronounced convergence was maintained by nearly steady moisture influx, and the persistent upper-level trough to the northwest enhanced the ratio of moisture convergence to the influx. The magnitude of instantaneous moisture flux, however, was not particularly large among those along the subtropical jet axis or the Meiyu-Baiu rainband. What made this event unique is the persistence of the moisture flux peak anchored around Kyushu under the influence of the Silk-Road teleconnection. In June 2020, three upper-level troughs, whose easternmost one corresponding to the aforementioned trough, tend to form along the subtropical Asian jet. This wave train was persistent in the month and lasted until mid-July, 2020. Our analysis suggests that, prior to the rainfall event, the Silk-Road teleconnection was intensified through an interaction with a wave train at subpolar latitudes, which involves nonlinear processes including trough cut-off.

Automated summary

In early July 2020, a prolonged heavy rainfall event occurred in Kyushu, Japan, which was influenced by the Silk-Road teleconnection. The persistence of moisture flux and the presence of an upper-level trough played significant roles in this event.