The Doppler radar data of torrential rainfall processes in Linyi, Shandong from 2010 to 2017 are statistically analyzed to study the characteristics and its application criteria of adverse wind areas during these processes. Results reveal that: 1) the occurrence and development of adverse wind areas are direct results of the vertical circulations inside the storms during the torrential rainfall processes; 2) the adverse wind areas present meso-γ and meso-β scales with different shapes in different weather types; 3) the precipitation intensity tends to increase while the adverse wind areas persistently exist, and the duration of the adverse wind is positively correlated to the accumulated precipitation; 4) when the radar identifies the adverse wind area at the lowest elevation angle with the thickness equal to or greater than 4.0 km, the intensity equal to or greater than 15 m·s-1, the absolute value of the maximum radial velocity equal to or greater than 5 m·s-1, and the duration above 30 minutes, the storm generally significantly develops. Relevant characteristics can be reference in forecasting storms and torrential rainfall processes.