Diagnostic Study of a Severe Thunderstorm over Jeddah

Alkhalaf, Abdulrahman K.; Basset, H. Abdel

doi:10.4236/acs.2013.31017

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Additionally, before the trough, there is a low-level jet zone extending from the Red Sea coast to the inland around Jeddah (e.g., Fig. 1h), which in general leads to the movement of convective systems from west to east and has an important impact on the moisture source for the heavy rainfall (e.g., Xie and Zhang 2012;Al-Khalaf and Basset 2013).…”

Section: Initial Synoptic Features For Jeddah Floodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of Flash-Flood-Producing Storm Events in Saudi Arabia Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model*

Deng

McCabe

Stenchikov

et al. 2015

Journal of Hydrometeorology

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The challenges of monitoring and forecasting flash-flood-producing storm events in data-sparse and arid regions are explored using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model (version 3.5) in conjunction with a range of available satellite, in situ, and reanalysis data. Here, we focus on characterizing the initial synoptic features and examining the impact of model parameterization and resolution on the reproduction of a number of floodproducing rainfall events that occurred over the western Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Analysis from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim) data suggests that mesoscale convective systems associated with strong moisture convergence ahead of a trough were the major initial features for the occurrence of these intense rain events. The WRF Model was able to simulate the heavy rainfall, with driving convective processes well characterized by a high-resolution cloud-resolving model. The use of higher (1 km vs 5 km) resolution along the Jeddah coastline favors the simulation of local convective systems and adds value to the simulation of heavy rainfall, especially for deep-convection-related extreme values. At the 5-km resolution, corresponding to an intermediate study domain, simulation without a cumulus scheme led to the formation of deeper convective systems and enhanced rainfall around Jeddah, illustrating the need for careful model scheme selection in this transition resolution. In analysis of multiple nested WRF simulations (25, 5, and 1 km), localized volume and intensity of heavy rainfall together with the duration of rainstorms within the Jeddah catchment area were captured reasonably well, although there was evidence of some displacements of rainstorm events.

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Section: Initial Synoptic Features For Jeddah Floodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulation of Flash-Flood-Producing Storm Events in Saudi Arabia Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model*

Deng

McCabe

Stenchikov

et al. 2015

Journal of Hydrometeorology

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“…They limited their study of the wind to an area that includes the strait of Bab el Mandeb, the Red Sea south of 14 ° N, and the Eritrean coasts. In addition, only a few researchers have considered the contribution of the RSLLJ to moisture transport and winter precipitation including flood events and winter precipitation in the western and northwestern regions of Saudi Arabia (AL‐Khalaf and Abdel‐Basset, ; Deng et al, ; Samman and Gallus, ). Interestingly, this jet was present over the southern Red Sea prior to both flooding events that occurred in Jeddah in 2009 and 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A climatology of the winter low‐level jet over the Red Sea

Samman

Gallus

2018

Intl Journal of Climatology

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This study presents the first climatology of the low‐level jet (LLJ) over the southern part of the Red Sea during the winter season. ERA‐Interim pressure levels with 25 hPa vertical resolution were analysed for a 10‐year period from 2006 to 2015. The jet was found to be a relatively frequent phenomenon, occurring on 37% of all 6‐hr time steps in all 10 years in the south at 13.5°N and 43°E, decreasing to 15% of the data farther north at 19.5°N and 39°E. The core of the jet was usually close to the ground, with occurrence maximized at the 925 and 950 hPa levels corresponding roughly to 540–800 m above sea level. The study defined three criteria for the jet based on peak wind speeds. The jets that met the weaker criterion were frequent north of the straight of Bab el Mandeb in the far southern part of the Red Sea. The jets that met the two stronger criteria were more frequent further north approximately between 14°–17°N and 39°–42°E. Although the jet was present in the strait of Bab el Mandeb as found in earlier studies, the extension of the jet so much farther north suggests that other processes besides channelling must be acting to produce this jet. It also appears that the jet plays a significant role in moisture advection towards the central Red Sea region, which can contribute towards precipitation there as it was found that the moisture concentration increased in that region when the LLJ was present. It must be noted, however, that the present study relied upon reanalysis data to document the jet. Upper level observations in the region are scarce, so caution should be used in the interpretation of the results.

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“…Analyses of different storms that occurred over the SA regions showed that most of the moisture transport comes from the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea (RS), and tropical African areas (Dayan and Abramaski, 1983;Zangvil and Izacson, 1995;Krichak and Albert, 1998;Ziv et al, 2005;Al-Khalaf and Abdel Basset, 2013). On the other hand, the present study found that some of the events that occurred in the eastern and central regions were influenced by some moisture transport from the Arabian Gulf.…”

Section: Synoptic Pattern Classificationmentioning

confidence: 44%

“…Two areas of divergence associated with the wind speed maxima within the jet stream (jet streak), which are favorable for ascending motion, were present in most of the cases (right entrance and left exit). It is known that the STJ reaches its maximum speed at 200 hPa (> 65 ms -1 ) over northern and northeastern Africa in winter, which influences the weather of these regions as well as in SA (Ziv et al, 2005;Al-Khalaf and Abdel Basset, 2013).…”

Section: Synoptic Pattern Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The RST shifts westward from September to January and eastward from February to May due to the seasonal movement and perturbation of the Sudan Low. Several studies have analyzed the synoptic patterns and the dynamics of some individual flooding and heavy precipitation events in this region (Zangvil and Izacson, 1995;Krichak and Alpert, 1998;Dayan et al, 2001;Ziv et al, 2005;Al-Khalaf and Abdel Basset, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A classification of synoptic patterns inducing heavy precipitation in Saudi Arabia during the period 2000-2014

Samman

Gallus

2018

Atm

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RESUMENSe investigan los patrones sinópticos asociados con el desarrollo de precipitación intensa en cinco regiones de Arabia Saudita. Se obtuvieron diferentes patrones sinópticos para eventos de precipitación intensa usando un mapa de clasificación de patrones basado en correlaciones, el cual se aplicó a datos reticulados de reanálisis de los NCEP/NCAR para una altura de 1000 hPa, correspondientes al periodo 2000-2014. El estudio aborda seis características sinópticas importantes y clasifica 28 patrones sinópticos detallados resultantes de 186 casos. Los patrones sinópticos obtenidos difieren significativamente en niveles bajos pero son relativamente similares en niveles altos. Los eventos de precipitación intensa fueron más frecuentes en invierno y primavera, en tanto que un pequeño porcentaje ocurrió durante el verano en todas las regiones saudíes. Durante el verano, las precipitaciones intensas estuvieron circunscritas a la región meridional del país, que recibe la influencia de una corriente ascendente. ABSTRACTThis study investigates the synoptic patterns associated with the development of heavy rainfall in five different regions of Saudi Arabia. Different synoptic patterns were derived for the heavy rainfall events using a correlation-based map of pattern classifications applied to 1000 hPa gridded NCEP/UCAR reanalysis data for the period 2000-2014. The study summarizes six major synoptic features and classifies 28 detailed synoptic patterns emerging from 186 cases. The derived synoptic patterns differ significantly at lower levels but are relatively similar at upper levels. Heavy rainfall events were most frequent in winter and then spring, while a small percentage occurred during fall in all the regions of the country. In summer, heavy precipitation was restricted to the southern region, which is influenced by an upslope flow.

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Diagnostic Study of a Severe Thunderstorm over Jeddah

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Simulation of Flash-Flood-Producing Storm Events in Saudi Arabia Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model*

Simulation of Flash-Flood-Producing Storm Events in Saudi Arabia Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model*

A climatology of the winter low‐level jet over the Red Sea

A classification of synoptic patterns inducing heavy precipitation in Saudi Arabia during the period 2000-2014

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