Evolution and Characteristics of Lightning Distribution over Typhoon Haiyan (2013)

Super Typhoon Haiyan that formed in the northwest Pacific Ocean in November 2013 was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in terms of central pressure and winds. Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines on 7 November 2013 and caused over 6000 fatalities and unmeasurable damage.

Long-range lightning data from Vaisala's GLD360 (Global Lightning Dataset) were analyzed to investigate the distribution and density of lightning as the typhoon intensified and made landfall. Preliminary results show that the majority of lightning strikes over the whole life cycle of the typhoon were observed near the core of the typhoon and not in the rainbands, as is the case with many tropical cyclones. Some lightning outbreaks were observed in the eyewall during the intensification period. Specifically, a very active, steady period of lightning was recorded during a 24-hour period before Haiyan reached its maximum intensity. A few hours after the landfall, a very intense outbreak was observed in the southeast quadrant of the eyewall.

An analysis of the structure of Haiyan will be shown together with possible causes for the observed lightning distribution. Also, potential applications of long-range lightning data in tropical cyclone intensity forecasting will be discussed.