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Climatology of tornadoes of India and Bangladesh

Klimatologie der Tornados in Indien und Bangladesch

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Summary

On the basis of 51 tomadic events reported since 1835, the climatology of tornadoes across the Indian Subcontinent is elucidated. Tornadoes are most likely to occur during the late afternoon of the pre-monsoon months in northeast India or Bangladesh. A secondary maximum exists for the post-monsoon transitional period in the Northeast; moreover, tornadoes have been reported in a corridor extending to the northwest toward Pakistan. The characteristic weather patterns favoring the pre-monsoon severe storms are described. It is speculated that cycles of tornado years may be correlated to periods of reduced tropical cyclone activity.

Zusammenfassung

Auf Grund von Berichten über 51 Tornados seit 1835 wird eine klimatologische Beschreibung dieser Wirbelstdrme über dem indischen Subkontinent erstellt. Diese Stürme treten am häufigsten am Spätnachmittag wahrend der Vormonsunmonate in Nordostindien und Bangladesch auf. Ein sekundäres Häufigkeitsmaximum existiert wahrend der postmonsunalen Übergangsjahreszeit im Nordosten Indiens. Überdies wurden Tornados aus einem Korridor berichtet, der sich nordwestwärts gegen Pakistan hin erstreckt. Die charakteristischen Wetterlagen der Vormonsunmonate, welche das Auftreten von Tornados fördern, werden beschrieben. Tornadozyklen scheinen mit Perioden reduzierter tropischer Zyklonenaktivität korreliert zu sein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric Science Group, Texas Tech University, 79409, Lubbock, TX, USA

    R. E. Peterson

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University, 79409, Lubbock, TX, USA

    K. C. Mehta

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  1. R. E. Peterson
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Peterson, R.E., Mehta, K.C. Climatology of tornadoes of India and Bangladesh. Arch. Met. Geoph. Biocl., Ser. B 29, 345–356 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02263310

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