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An analysis was conducted on the evolutional process of a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) and associated heavy rainfall in the Dabie Mountain area on 21-22 June 2008, as well as their structural characteristics in different stages, by using the mesoscale reanalysis data with 3 km and 1 h resolution generated by the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) in the Southern China Heavy Rainfall Experiment. The results showed that the latent heat released by convection in the midtroposphere was the main energy source for the development of a low-level vortex. There was a positive feedback interaction between the convection and the vortex, and the evolution of the MCV was closely related to the strength of the positive interaction. The most typical characteristics of the thermal structure in different stages were that, there was a relatively thin diabatic heating layer in the midtroposphere in the formative stage; the thickness of diabatic heating layer significantly increased in the mature stage; and it almost disappeared in the decay stage. The characteristics of the dynamic structure were that, in the formative stage, there was no anticyclonic circulation at the high level; in the mature stage, an anticyclonic circulation with strong divergence was formed at the high level; in the decay stage, the anticyclonic circulation was damaged and the high-level atmosphere was in a disordered state of turbulence. Finally, the structural schematics of the MCV in the formative and mature stage were established respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]