Heavy Rain and Sandstorms Threaten Multiple Regions in China
China’s National Meteorological Centre has issued a blue alert for heavy rain across southern and southwestern provinces, while sandstorms are expected to sweep parts of the northwest, as the country grapples with its wettest May in a decade. The warnings, effective from 08:00 May 29 to 08:00 May 30, cover a broad swath of territory including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and Taiwan, according to China News Network.
Heavy Rainfall Forecast
The Central Meteorological Observatory forecasts heavy to torrential rain across southern Sichuan, eastern Yunnan, southern Guizhou, southwestern Hunan, northern and western Guangxi, northern and eastern Guangdong, central and southern Fujian, and eastern Taiwan. Localized extreme downpours of 100 to 140 millimeters are expected in northeastern Yunnan, with maximum hourly rainfall reaching 20 to 50 millimeters and potentially exceeding 60 millimeters in some areas, as reported by People Daily.
These conditions follow scattered heavy rain on May 28, when areas including northeastern Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and parts of Yunnan and Guangxi received 100 to 239 millimeters of rainfall. Thunderstorms with gale-force winds of Force 8 or above were recorded in southern Jiangxi, eastern Fujian, southwestern Guizhou, central Yunnan, and northwestern Guangxi.
Sandstorms in the Northwest
Over the next three days, strong winds are expected to bring blowing sand and floating dust to eastern and southern Xinjiang, northwestern Qinghai, western Gansu, and central and western Inner Mongolia. Localized sandstorms are possible in eastern Xinjiang and western Inner Mongolia, the Central Meteorological Observatory warned.
Record May Rainfall
The heavy rain arrives as China records its wettest May in a decade. At a press conference held by the China Meteorological Administration on May 29, National Climate Center Deputy Director Gao Rong announced that the national average precipitation in May reached 70.9 millimeters, 16.3 percent above the historical average and the highest for the same period in the last 10 years, as detailed by China Weather Network.
The Haihe River Basin recorded its highest precipitation since 1961 at 110.6 millimeters — nearly double the average — while the Yellow River Basin saw its third-highest May rainfall on record. The May 13-21 rainstorm was the strongest regional rainstorm event in May since 1961, with the largest affected area on record for the month. Sixty-eight national weather stations broke spring daily precipitation records.
Coordinated Multi-Agency Warnings
In response to the elevated risks, multiple government agencies issued coordinated warnings on May 29. The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued a yellow flash flood warning, while the Ministry of Natural Resources and the CMA issued a yellow geological disaster risk warning. The CMA also reissued its blue rainstorm warning for the affected regions.
China Weather Network has cautioned that although rainfall in the south is expected to decrease and weaken in the coming days, many areas including the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, eastern and northern South China, southern Guizhou, and southern Yunnan have saturated soil conditions. Given the lagging nature of rainstorm-induced secondary disasters, local authorities must continue to guard against landslides and mudslides.
Typhoon Qiangwei Developing
Adding to the complex weather picture, Typhoon Qiangwei (Rosa), the sixth typhoon of 2026, is developing in the Northwest Pacific. The storm is moving west-northwest at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, gradually strengthening and approaching the waters east of Taiwan, according to China Weather Network.
The National Climate Center forecasts that one to two typhoons will make landfall or affect southern China in June, more than the historical average, with stronger intensity.
Outlook and Implications
While the rain band is expected to shift southward from May 30, with decreasing intensity, the risk of secondary disasters remains elevated in already-saturated areas. The agricultural sector faces particular challenges: although the China Weather Network noted that May 30 to June 2 would bring mostly sunny weather favorable for mechanical harvesting in major summer harvest areas, soil saturation in the middle and lower Yangtze, southern Guizhou, and southern Yunnan raises concerns about waterlogging damage.
May 2026 was also warmer than average, with the national average temperature of 16.9 degrees Celsius being 0.6 degrees above the historical average. Shanghai recorded its highest May temperature on record. The combination of above-average temperatures and extreme rainfall creates compound risks: heatwaves in the north, flooding in the south, and potential drought in some central and northern areas.
Residents in affected regions are advised to prepare for potential flooding, water transportation disruptions, and to remain vigilant against geological disasters as the country continues to monitor these evolving weather patterns.