Typical Synoptic Patterns Responsible for Summer Regional Hourly Extreme Precipitation Events Over the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Basin, China.

Based on the hourly rainfall gauge data and ERA5 reanalysis for the period 1980–2020, typical synoptic patterns responsible for summer regional hourly extreme precipitation events (RHEPE) over the middle and lower Yangtze River basin have been objectively identified using a circulation clustering method. It is found that the Meiyu front with different locations and intensities imbedded in the East Asian summer monsoon, and landfalling typhoons are the leading contributors. As the dominant synoptic pattern, the Meiyu front pattern is associated with ∼92% of the total RHEPE occurrence and can be categorized into a southerly strong‐Meiyu type and a northerly weak‐Meiyu type. The RHEPE occurrence shows a predominant morning peak associated with the southerly strong‐Meiyu type and a secondary late afternoon peak related to the northerly weak‐Meiyu type, in which the Meiyu front is pushed northward by the strengthened western North Pacific subtropical high accompanied by accelerated low‐level southwesterly flow. Plain Language Summary: Using ERA5 reanalysis and hourly gauge rainfall measurements in summers of 1980–2020, this study investigates the driving mechanisms and temporal variation of summer regional hourly extreme rainfall events over the middle and lower Yangtze River basin. Typical synoptic patterns responsible for the summer regional hourly rainfall extremes are objectively identified using spectral clustering analysis. The Meiyu front with different locations and intensities imbedded in East Asian summer monsoon and the landfalling typhoons are the synoptic patterns leading to the regional hourly rainfall extremes. The diurnal twin peaks (morning and late afternoon) in the occurrence of regional hourly rainfall extremes are related to the Meiyu front with different locations and intensities. The results from this investigation may help improve the prediction and climate risk assessment of regional extreme rainfall events. Key Points: The Meiyu front imbedded in the East Asian summer monsoon and landfalling typhoons are the leading contributors of summer regional hourly extreme precipitation events (RHEPE) over middle and lower Yangtze River basinThe Meiyu front pattern can be sorted into a southerly type with strong Meiyu front and a northerly type with weak Meiyu frontThe northerly weak Meiyu front pattern with active convection contributes the most to the afternoon diurnal peak of RHEPE occurrence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]