A Conceptual Model for the Development of Tornadoes in the Complex Orography of the Po Valley

Abstract

Abstract The Po Valley in northern Italy is a hotspot for tornadoes in Europe in spite of being surrounded by two mountain ridges: the Alps in the north and the Apennines in the southwest. The research focuses on the case study of 19 September 2021, when seven tornadoes (four of them rated as F2) developed in the Po Valley in a few hours. The event was analyzed using observations and numerical simulations with the convection-permitting Modello Locale in Hybrid Coordinates (MOLOCH) model. Observations show that during the event in the Po Valley, there were two surface boundaries that created a triple point: an outflow boundary generated by convection triggered in the Alpine foothills and a dryline generated by downslope winds from the Apennines, while warm and moist air advected westward from the Adriatic Sea east (ahead) of the boundaries. Tornadoes developed about 20 km northeast of the triple point. Numerical simulations with 500-m grid spacing suggest that the development of supercells and drylines in the Po Valley was sensitive to the elevation of the Apennines. Simulated vertical profiles show that the best combination of instability and wind shear for the development of tornadoes was attained within a narrow area located ahead of the dryline. A conceptual model for the development of tornadoes in the Po Valley is proposed, and the differences between tornado environments over a flat terrain and over a region with complex terrain are discussed. Significance Statement The Po Valley is a highly populated area where some of the most violent tornadoes in Europe have developed. We investigated a tornado outbreak that occurred on 19 September 2021 in this region, in order to identify its main environmental characteristics. High-resolution numerical simulations revealed that values of instability and wind shear were compatible with the development of several tornadoes only in a narrow area close to the intersection of two surface boundaries (a triple point). Moreover, the atmospheric environment during the tornado outbreak was strongly influenced by the presence of mountain ridges surrounding the plain. We have summarized our results in a conceptual model that can potentially be used for forecasting applications.