Enhanced predictability of rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific associated with snow depth changes over the Tibetan Plateau

This study finds an enhanced relationship in recent years between January–March eastern Tibetan Plateau snow depth (TPSD) and the frequency of rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones (RITCs) over the western Northern Pacific (WNP) during the following peak TC season (July–November). The correlation between TPSD and RITCs is significant during 2000–2014 but was insignificant from 1979–1999. During 2000–2014, when TPSD increases, there is an enhanced low-level anomalous anticyclone over the subtropical eastern North Pacific mainly due to the combined effect of advection and dynamics of the climatological prevailing westerly jet. Northeasterly wind anomalies are observed on the flank of the anticyclonic circulation anomaly, favoring anomalously cool sea surface temperature (SST). These anomalies lead to an anomalous pattern similar to the Pacific meridional mode (PMM), via a wind-evaporation feedback and cold advection. A Gill-type Rossby response to the PMM-like negative phase results in an anticyclonic circulation anomaly over the WNP, suppressing RITCs during 2000–2014. A nearly opposite circulation anomaly occurred when TPSD was lower during 2000–2014. There is a weak relationship between TPSD and RITCs, due to the lack of a link between TPSD and the PMM-like pattern from 1979–1999. Decadal changes in the relationship between TPSD and RITCs are mainly due to the meridional displacement of the prevailing westerly jet which may be in response to decadal-to-multi-decadal variability of SST anomalies. These changes then result in changes in the relationship between January–March TPSD and the PMM-like pattern.