Evaluating the Influence of the Shillong Plateau Topography on Thunderstorm Activity Over Northeast India

Abstract

Northeast India (NEI) experiences frequent thunderstorms during the pre-monsoon season, which are catastrophic, resulting in significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure and property. The Shillong Plateau (SP) has been identified as a crucial triggering element in the initiation of these thunderstorms over NEI. Our investigation focuses on tracking changes in thermodynamic indicators over NEI to assess the SP's effect on thunderstorm initiation and propagation. The results show a substantial increase in thermodynamic index values across NEI when the SP topography is increased, indicating a rise in thunderstorm activity. On the other hand, reduced topography of the SP leads to a decrease in these indices, which is correlated with a reduction in thunderstorm intensity. We also found that lower SP topography corresponds with higher levels of precipitation, while higher SP topography has the opposite effect on precipitation. These findings emphasize the critical role of the SP topography in regulating pre-monsoon thunderstorms over NEI, with important implications for understanding and predicting regional weather patterns.