Numerical Prediction on Snowfall Intensity in the Mountainous Coastal Region

The formation of a severe snow storm occurred in the mountainous coastal region near Mt. Taegualyang and Kangnung city in the eastern part of Korea was investigate from 0900LST, December 7 through 9, 2002, using MM5 model. As synoptic scale easterly wind induced a great amount of moisture from the East Sea into the inland coastal region and sea-breeze further induced more moisture from the basin toward the top of the mountain side. The lifted moisture toward the mountain top was cooled down along the eastern slope of the mountain and near the mid of the mountain the moisture was much cooled down with relative humidity of 100％ under the air temperature below $O^{\circ}C$, resulting in the formation of snow. Relative humidity of 100％ generally occurred at the 5km away from the coast toward the inland mountain and the band of 100％ RH was parallel to the coastal line. The 100％ band coincided with minimum air temperature band and line.