Rare Lightning and Convection Characteristics During Two Successive Tornadoes in Southern China

ABSTRACT Systematic investigations into lightning characteristics of tornado storms in China remain scarce. This study comprehensively analyses rare lightning behaviour and overshooting top characteristics for two successive tornadoes during a long‐lived supercell in southern China on 27 April 2024. Data used include wide‐area lightning location, weather radar composite reflectivity and Himawari‐9 satellite image. For the first time in China, lightning holes prior to tornado touchdown are documented. Key findings include the following: (1) The proportion of positive cloud‐to‐ground flashes significantly increased and peaked at 70% before the first tornado, suggesting that strong updrafts altered the thunderstorm charge structure. Three lightning jumps occurred within 30 min before the tornado. (2) Two lightning holes were identified prior to the first tornado, and another lightning hole was identified before the second tornado. These lightning holes coincided with radar composite reflectivity cores exceeding 55 dBZ, adjacent overshooting top centres, and lower brightness temperatures, indicating deep convection surrounding these lightning holes. (3) The first and second tornadoes occurred at the peak and decline of overshooting top centre number, respectively, suggesting the variation in tornado‐parent thunderstorm convection. This study provides novel insights into the lightning and convection characteristics of tornadic supercells in southern China.