Temporal and Spatial Variations of Thunderstorm Activity in the South of Germany

This paper presents results from statistical analyses of the temporal changes and spatial inhomogenety of thunderstorm activity in the south of Germany. The data base covers the years 1951-1995. The data of thunderstorm days was taken from weather stations and examined for temporal fluctuations. In spite of that thunderstorm activity does not significantly change from year to year, location of the increased (decreased) activity sources is quite stable. The biggest influence on the irregularity of spatial distribution of thunderstorms is made by orography. On the mesascale territories exist different tendencies of thunderstorm activity.