We note that the PF-based MCS definitions used here are loose in the sense that any mesoscale (or larger) and intense contiguous rainfall feature exceeding the aforementioned PF parameter thresholds is considered an MCS. Some large weather systems producing widespread (for example, larger than 1,000 km scale) and/or long lasting rainfall (for example, longer than 24 h) are sometimes referred to as synoptic events17, but individual MCSs do play an important role in producing heavy precipitation associated with these events715. Thus, sometimes multiple MCSs occurring near a synoptic disturbance could be identified as a single MCS (reflected in the maximum PF length scale >1,000 km and lifetime >24 h) by the PF algorithm due to their spatially and temporally continuous rainfall. This behaviour does not affect the findings in this study, as each of the entities, combined or separated, contribute to net rainfall from MCSs and are forced under similar environments.