Abstract:Based on the LD II lightning locator and Lanzhou CINRAD/CC radar datasets, the relationship between the radar echo parameter and lightning activity area was analyzed using the summer precipitation cases in the central of Gansu Province in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Then, the key characteristics of the radar data were summarized and a lightning warning program was established. The results show that the echo top of 35 dBz and 40 dBz reflectivity above the height of -10℃ layer can be used in the lightning warning, which can make the prediction time of lightning warning be 23 and 16 minutes in advance respectively. Vertically integrated liquid (VIL) with values less than 30 kg·m-3 can be utilized as a sufficient condition to judge whether thunderstorm will occur. Generally the warning should be 7 minutes earlier than the ocurrence of lightning when the echo top (ET) exceeds 10 km. The lightning warning program was tested using the cases in 2013, and the result indicates that this program has a good effect on the thunderstorm warning.