"The rain is finally coming, and the temperature is finally dropping!" 

That was the first reaction of many in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, who have suffered through the scorching heat that exceeded 40 degrees Celsius at times and power rationing triggered by an energy crunch in the region. The area is highly reliant on hydropower, which has been severely cut since the prolonged drought began in July.

Factories that had to cut or halt production are running again, as the State Grid Cooperation of China announced on Sunday that the power supply for general industrial and commercial activities in the province was fully restored.

However, the National Meteorological Center weather forecast on Sunday saying that Southwest China seeing more rain in the next 10 days might not be good news for people there.

The authorities have started to warn against another disaster: flash floods.

On Saturday, the provincial capital Chengdu issued a yellow alert for flooding as videos on social media platforms show floodwater pouring down hillsides, submerging roads and vehicles.

Sichuan's neighboring regions, including Shaanxi and Gansu provinces and Chongqing Municipality, also issued similar warnings against the abrupt increase in rainfall.

Experts warn that the expected rainfall is an alarming 40-100 percent more compared to the same period in previous years. What's more concerning is that the long and devastating drought has made the soil too dry and hard to absorb rainwater, making disasters like mudslides more likely.

During an online meeting on Sunday, the Ministry of Emergency Management said it will step up disaster warning and prevention efforts as well as evacuation activities for affected residents.

Despite the threat of flooding in the southwest, much of China's southern regions remain dry.

China's national observatory reissued an orange alert for drought on Sunday as heatwaves persist in multiple regions along the Yangtze River, including sections of Sichuan and Chongqing.

(Cover image via VCG)

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