The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the
performance of various PBL and cumulus convection
schemes of a mesoscale WRF ARW model in simulating the
characteristic features of thunderstorm events that occurred
over the MST radar facility, Gadanki. For this purpose the
model simulated thermodynamical structure of the atmosphere,
variation of surface meteorological variables and
rainfall variations are validated with the available observations
including surface fluxes andMST radar derived vertical
velocity profiles during different epochs of thunderstorm
events over the study region. The characteristic features of
thunderstorm activity in the surface meteorological variables
such as sudden rise in RH, fall of AT, variations in WS
during the thunderstorm events are reasonably captured by
the MYJ scheme with one hour lead and/or lag. But the
schemes failed to capture the typical variation of SLP (pre squall
low, meso high and wake low) as seen in the observations. The
thermal structure, wind components and RH with height are
well captured by the MYJ scheme. It could capture the presence
of neutral and convective instability in the lower layers and the
potential instability in the upper layers with sufficientmoisture
which is a necessary and sufficient condition for the occurrence
of the thunderstorm. A statistical analysis based on mean absolute
error, root mean square error and correlation coefficient
revealed good performance of the MYJ scheme in simulating
various parameters associatedwith the thunderstorms over thestudy region. Upon validating with MST Radar derived
observations, convective cores are better represented by
MYJ in combination with the GD convection parameterization
scheme with a time lag of one and half hour, but with
varying intensity than that of the other schemes. All the
schemes, MYJ–KF, MYJ–BMJ and MYJ–GD combinations along
with Thomson cloud microphysical parameterization scheme
failed to capture the accumulated rainfall compared to the
observed rainfall measurements at the study area. Even though
MYJ–GD has under-predicted the rainfall it fared little better
over the other schemes in capturing the rainfall events. This
case study is preliminary in nature and advocates the
usefulness of the model and identified the MYJ–GD parameterization
schemes are found to be efficient in forecasting the
thunderstorms over southern peninsular India, but requires
analysis of more numbers of thunderstorm events over the
study region before arriving at any comprehensive conclusion.