Characteristics of some frontal stratiform precipitation events south of the alpine chain during MAP

Summary This paper examines the flow conditions associated with frontal widespread and moderate precipitation over the Lago Maggiore Target Area (LMTA) of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme, and observed during the intensive observation periods (IOPs) 4 (30 September 1999), 8 (21 October), 9 (23 October) and 15 (6 November). The flow organization that led precipitation maxima to occur away from the relief instead of being concentrated on the windward southern slopes of the Alps is investigated from three ground-based Doppler radars.Different aspects of this organization are noted. Post-frontal flow had a primary role in IOPs 4 and 15, and the intensity and vertical extension of the incoming flow modulated the precipitation intensity and duration over the LMTA. In IOPs 4 and 9, westerly-to-northwesterly downslope flow opposed the south–southeasterly moist inflow, but the larger thickness and intensity of the inflow in IOP 9 yielded longer rain duration. Also the occurrence of such downslope flow on the lee side was accompanied by foehn effects. In IOP 15, the southerly inflow was strong enough to rise over a deep and strong northerly downslope post-frontal cold flow (in connection with a deep lee cyclone) which was probably enhanced by melting and evaporation of hydrometeors, and behaved like a severe downslope wind. The IOP 8 event was a case of blocked flow and slow frontal passage, and was accompanied with persistent stratiform precipitation over the LMTA. The blocking was due to the stable character of the east–southeasterly incoming flow which favored flow deflection (barrier flow) along the southeastward-facing slopes of the Alps. It is also found that gravity waves activity during IOPs 8 and 9 modulated the precipitation distribution over the LMTA.