Rain to ebb in south, surge in north soon

From late August to early September, precipitation will be higher in northern China and lower in the south, according to forecasters from the National Climate Center. Meanwhile, temperatures across most regions of the country are expected to be near or above average, with parts of central and eastern China experiencing intermittent heat waves.

The summer monsoon continues to deliver moisture and heat to northern and central China, leading to the accumulation of warm and moist air and creating an atmosphere ripe for heavy rain.

The above-normal precipitation and above-average temperatures during this year's flood season are largely due to the position of the Western Pacific subtropical high, which has resulted in the formation of two distinct rain belts — one in the north and one in the south — said Zhi Rong, a chief forecaster at the National Climate Center.

Data from the center shows that this year's rainy season in North China began on July 5, the earliest since records began in 1961. The national average temperature from July 5 to Aug 5 was also 1.5 C higher than the same period in previous years, making it the highest on record since 1961.

Zhi said the ridge of the high-pressure system was at its northernmost position on record.

The warm, moist air flowing along its northern edge combined with cold air pushing south, leading to an abnormal amount of rain in northern China. Meanwhile, a southern rain belt formed along the southern and eastern coasts, where the high-pressure system led to increased typhoon activity and heavy rain.

Regions caught between these two belts, including the Jianghuai and Huanghuai plains and parts of Southwest China, have experienced high temperatures and drought conditions due to the stable high-pressure system.

Last weekend, heavy downpours battered parts of Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu. The rainfall is the latest in a series of intense events that have plagued the region, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The forecast for the next three days predicts the rain belt will persist, stretching from the Sichuan Basin to the Jianghan and Jianghuai plains. The public needs to be vigilant about flash floods and mudslides that could be triggered by the continuous rainfall or localized heavy downpours, weather experts warned.

This year's extreme weather events have resulted in floods in the north and south, as well as drought in the central regions, posing a risk to autumn grain production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

In response, the ministry recently released a plan outlining 34 tailored disaster prevention and relief measures aimed at securing a bountiful autumn harvest and overall grain production.

Moreover, the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Water Resources, has allocated 1.015 billion yuan ($141 million) from the central budget for agricultural disaster relief.