Abstract:Using the data collected from Doppler radar and lightning detection network in Yunnan Province, the characteristics of radar echo and cloud to ground (CG) lightning in six typical hail processes are analyzed comprehensively in Central Yunnan Province from 2006 to 2011. The results show that there are typical characteristics of hailstone echoes in basic reflectivity radar images, such as bow echo, TBSS, side lobe echo, WBER (BER), V shaped notch, hook echo, etc. Hail area always appears in the places where basic reflectivity gradients are high, and the negative CG lightnings are dense and active as well. The movement of the concentrated CG lightning area can be the index indicating the moving of hailstone echoes. The hailing periods are the active phase of negative CG lightning, during which the appearance of positive CG lightning is seldom seen. This is significantly different from the hailing with the high positive CG lightning frequency feature in northern area of China. The peaks of 5 min negative CG lightning occur 5-12 min earlier than hailstone falling, which can be regarded as a reference index of predicting hailing in central Yunnan Province. The spatio temporal distribution and changing of negative CG lightning frequency could play some reference roles in monitoring and warning hails and commanding hail operations in Central Yunnan Province.