Abstract: Based on the Doppler weather radar echo data and the observational data from the lightning location detection equipment and the meteorological data from regional automatic stations, the lightning characteristics in a heavy rainfall process caused by the southwest vortex on June 9, 2011 in Hubei province were analyzed. The results indicate that the location of ground lightning differs in the different stages of mecoscale convective systems (MCS). The frequencies of positive and negative lightning reach the peak values synchronously, which is one of the symbols of MCS mature. The intensive region of ground lightning and the rapid moving strong echo location of MCS are coincident. The positive ground lightning appears in strong echo region of MCS; they have a good relationship with radar echo between 45-55 dBz; the strong precipitation occurs in the disappearing stage of MCS.

Key words: The southwest vortex, Radar echo, Lightning