Heavy rains forecast in July in N China

Heavy rainfall is expected in July for northern China. The China Meteorological Administration said Thursday that much of China should be prepared for weather-related risks in the month of July.

Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said at a press briefing on Thursday that rainfall in July is expected to be "above average" in parts of central and eastern China, with some areas anticipating a 20-50 percent increase in precipitation compared with previous years.

He also said there could be one to two typhoons forming in the South China Sea and the northwest Pacific in July.

Jia said there is an increased risk of flooding and landslides, particularly in the Yangtze River basin and other areas prone to such disasters.

China has experienced its warmest May on record. The national average temperature for May was 17.7 degrees Celsius, the highest since records began in 1961. The average temperature was 1.2 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.

High temperatures are predicted for parts of Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, Shanghai and other areas, with the temperature expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius this July.

He cautioned that farmers should take steps to protect crops from the potential effects of high temperatures and drought, such as adjusting irrigation schedules and selecting heat-resistant crop varieties.

China experienced a tumultuous June in terms of weather events.

Much of the country experienced above-average temperatures, with several regions setting new records. Jia said the daily maximum temperatures recorded at 20 national meteorological stations reached or exceeded historical extremes in June, while periods of heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in the Yangtze River basin and other areas, causing significant damage.

Jia also said drought conditions in regions including parts of northern China worsened over June.

The Blue Book on Climate Change of China 2024 was issued at the press briefing, reflecting climate changes in China and the world from the aspects of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere. It also expects increasing extreme high temperature events in China against the backdrop of global warming.

(Cover: CFP)