Abstract: Using data of 2012-2016 MICAPS synoptic charts and the Southwest China Vortexes Yearbook, the variation characteristics, active periods and movement characteristic of Southwest Vortexes (SWVs) with different genesis sources as well as their impact on precipitation were statistically analyzed. The results show that: (1) The average annual occurrence of SWVs was 95 but varied greatly from year to year. SWVs mostly generated in Jiulong, followed by the Sichuan Basin and Xiaojin. The frequent active period of SWVs is spring and early summer, Jiulong SWVs occurred mostly in spring and summer, the Basin SWVs mainly in winter and early spring and Xiaojin SWVs usually in late winter and spring. (2) SWVs activities primarily occurred from April to July. The longest life cycle of Xiaojin SWVs was 169h and that of Jiulong and Basin SWVs was 156h in July and 144h in May respectively. Most SWVs disappeared within 24h of their appearance. SWVs had the shortest life cycle in December, mostly shorter than 24h. (3) One-third of the SWVs could move out from their source areas. Jiulong had the maximum number of moving-out SWVs followed by the Basin. Xiaojin saw the minimal number of moving-out SWVs whereas had the highest moving-out percentage. SWVs moved out mainly from March to June. The moving-out period of SWVs from Jiulong, the Basin and Xiaojin were mainly from April to July, January to May and February to May respectively.(4) The moving tracks of SWVs were northeast, east and southeast. Jiulong SWVs mainly moved northeast, the Basin SWVs moved primarily to the northeast and east, Xiaojin SWVs moved mainly eastward and southeast. (5) Except for winter and early spring, SWVs from different source areas could cause precipitation regardless of their active lifetime. The precipitation caused by Jiulong SWVs is generally larger than that by the Basin SWVs. The heavy rainfall caused by the SWVs mostly occurred in June and July.