Tropical cyclone landfall along the South China Coast

This paper examines changes in tropical cyclone (TC) track, intensity, as well as distributions of convection and rainfall during landfall along the South China coast.

Composite analyses using best track data from the Hong Kong Observatory and Joint Typhoon Warning Center are employed to study the track and intensity changes near the time of landfall. Preliminary analyses suggest that TCs landfalling along the South China coast have a slight westward deviation irrespective of the direction of motion. Classifications by landfalling motion direction and intensity are also made as an attempt to relate landfall track / intensity as a function of landfalling motion / intensity.

Satellite, radar and station data are used to sutdy changes in the distributions of convection and rainfall on a case by case basis. Asymmetries in these distributions would also be identified.