Analysis of the February 2024 Atmospheric Circulation and Weather
The main characteristics of the atmospheric circulation in February 2024 are as follows.There were two polar vortex centers in the Northern Hemisphere.The eastern polar vortex,which was stronger than normal,was centered over the Sea of Okhotsk to the Kamchatka Peninsula,making the trajectory of cold air more eastward.In mid-latitude the circulation was distributed in a three-wave pattern,with the average trough in Siberia stronger than usual,causing the frequent occurrence of short-wave trough in the westerlies.The southern trough was more eastward than before and the Western Pacific subtropical high was significantly stronger.The monthly mean temperature was-1.8 ℃,0.5℃ lower than normal(-1.3 ℃),and the monthly mean precipitation was 22.5 mm,38%more than normal(16.3 mm).There were three major cold air processes during the month,of which the strong cold wave during 17-22 February led to severe cooling and significant low temperatures.Due to the combined influence of southward cold air and the southwest warm-humid airflow,two extreme persistent low-temperature rainy and snowy weather proces-ses occurred in the central and eastern regions of China.During the processes of low-temperature and freezing weather,the intensity and range of freezing rain were large,and the precipitation amount was somewhat extreme.Such a weather condition created many difficulties for the Spring Festival traffic.In addition,sandstorm and severe convective weather were monitored for the first time in this year.
atmospheric circulationcold waverain and snowfreezingpersistent low temperatureex-tremity