Linking Large‐Scale Circulation Descriptors to Precipitation Variability in the Northern French Alps

This work analyses the link between Western Europe large-scale circulation and precipitation variability in Northern French Alps from 1950 to 2017. We consider simple descriptors characterizing daily 500 hPa geopotential height fields. They are maximum pressure difference (MPD)—representing range of heights over Europe, singularity—representing mean distance a shape its closest analogs, that is, way this is reproduced climatology. show MPD singularity shapes explain significant part Isère River catchment () 10 days years, especially winter (correlations 0.7). These - easy implement—provide as much information weather pattern classification better performance than North Atlantic Oscillation medium size mountainous catchment.