Abstract:  Based on the diurnal precipitation data at 58 weather stations from 1960 to 2009, the climatic characteristics of regional snowstorm were analyzed in Liaoning province. The results indicate that the regional snowstorm mainly occurs from the last ten day of November to March 15 of the next year, especially in February. The number of snowstorm is in an increasing trend in the recent 50 years, and there exist the 9-year, 5-year and 3-year cycles. The 9-year cycle always exists, and its intensity enhances since 1960s, especially from 1970s to 1980s. The 5-year cycle occurs since 1970s and strengthens since the middle of 1970s. The 3-year cycle always exists, and its intensity is the strongest in the middle of 1970s and in 1980s. The number of regional snowstorm and snowstorm amount decrease from the southeast to the northwest, and three centers of snowstorm are located in Shenyang-Fushun-Benxi area, around Anshan area and in Fengcheng area. The falling area of regional snowstorm could be divided into four types, i.e. the middle and east snowstorm, the east snowstorm, the south snowstorm and the west snowstorm.

Key words: Regional snowstorm in Liaoning province, Climatic characteristics, Morlet wavelet analysis, Mann-Kendall test, EOF decomposition