Tornadoes are a significant weather hazard in Northeastern China, but their characteristics and environmental drivers differ from those in other regions. This study utilizes radar base data and ERA5 reanalysis data to analyze 114 tornadic events over an 20-year period. We propose a new classification method for Northeastern China tornadoes based on their morphology and dynamics. The analysis reveals that discrete storms are the most common type (70%), with the CC (clustered cell) mode being the most frequent. Strong tornadoes (EF2 and above) are primarily associated with discrete storms, particularly the IC (isolated cell) and BL (broken line) modes. Spatially, tornadoes concentrate in the Northeast Plain, and different modes exhibit distinct spatial distributions related to environmental parameters. Temporally, a unimodal distribution is observed, with peak activity in June-July and between 1500-1800 LST. Nocturnal tornadoes are predominantly QL (quasi-linear convective system) and NL (nonlinear convective system) modes. Compared to the US, Northeastern China tornadoes occur in moderate wind shear and lower CAPE environments. Importantly, 86% are associated with Northeastern China cold vortices (NCCVs), with a stronger preference for the southeast quadrant. This study enhances our understanding of Northeastern China tornadoes, informing future research on formation mechanisms, prediction methods, and disaster prevention strategies.
 

Convective storms; Northeastern China; tornadoes; morphology; Northeastern China cold vortex