Yangtze River Basin Faces Flooding as Heavy Rains Persist

Persistent heavy rainfall across China’s Yangtze River basin has intensified flood control concerns in multiple provinces, with authorities maintaining emergency response measures as the rainy season continues to impact central and eastern China. On June 22, areas including southern Guizhou, eastern Hubei, northern Hunan, northern Jiangxi, southern Anhui, southern Jiangsu, Shanghai, and northern Zhejiang experienced rainstorm or heavy rainstorm conditions, according to Xinhua News, citing the China Weather Network.

Current Situation

The main rain belt is forecast to shift eastward and southward on June 23-24, with rainfall intensity gradually weakening. After June 24, the rain is expected to push south to Guizhou, northern Guangxi, and the central-southern parts of the Jiangnan region. However, the damage from the sustained downpours has already raised alarm.

The Liujiang River in the Pearl River basin experienced the first numbered flood (No. 1 flood) of 2026 for China’s major rivers, followed by the Xijiang River on June 22, as reported by the Ministry of Emergency Management. These numbered floods mark the first such events of the year, signaling the severity of the ongoing weather pattern.

Government Response

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters maintains a Level IV flood control emergency response for Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Guizhou. The response for Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Yunnan was terminated on June 21 at 10:00.

On June 21, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Office and the Ministry of Emergency Management organized a joint consultation involving the China Meteorological Administration, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Ministry of Transport. The meeting was chaired by Chen Min, Director of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Office and Vice Minister of Emergency Management.

According to the joint consultation statement, authorities emphasized the need to strengthen prevention against mountain torrents, geological disasters, flooding of small and medium rivers, and urban waterlogging triggered by persistent heavy rainfall. China News reported that specific attention was directed toward tourist attractions, rural guesthouses, water-related projects, and flooded roads and bridges.

High-Risk Areas

Over the next three days, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui face the highest risks of disaster from persistent heavy rainfall. The Central Meteorological Observatory warned that northern Guangxi, southern Guizhou, and western Hunan will experience the strongest cumulative precipitation in the near term. Due to already elevated rainfall levels, the risk of mountain torrents, geological disasters, and urban waterlogging triggered by future heavy rain is high.

Broader Flood Season Context

The 2026 flood season in the Yangtze River basin was forecast to feature a mixed drought-flood scenario. According to the Yangtze River Basin Meteorological Center’s April prediction, overall precipitation for the main flood season (June-August) was expected to be below normal, with drought heavier than flood in the middle reaches. However, the concentrated rainfall period from late June to early July — now materializing as predicted — was always expected to pose significant risks.

As China News reported in May, the Yangtze River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters warned that this year’s flood season would feature an overall poor climate scenario, with drought and flood coexisting in some periods and frequent severe convective weather.

Temperature Contrast

A notable feature of the current weather pattern is the stark temperature divide across China. While the Yangtze River basin experiences unseasonably cool temperatures — around 25°C (77°F) in Hefei, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Shanghai — due to persistent cloud cover and rain, southern China continues to suffer from hot and humid “sauna weather.” Cities such as Guangzhou and Haikou are experiencing sustained high temperatures, with Guangzhou forecast to see consecutive days above 35°C (95°F).

Looking Ahead

The rain is expected to weaken after June 24 as the rain belt shifts southward. However, with the ground already saturated in many regions, the risk of secondary disasters remains high even with lighter precipitation. Looking further ahead, the Yangtze River Basin Meteorological Center has warned of potential high temperatures from mid-July to August, with the Sichuan Basin to the middle Yangtze potentially experiencing temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F).

The situation underscores the challenges posed by China’s 2026 flood season, which climate experts have linked to the transition from two consecutive La Niña winters to potential El Niño conditions, combined with a stronger-than-normal East Asian summer monsoon. With more typhoons than normal expected to make landfall this year, authorities remain on high alert for what could be a prolonged and complex disaster prevention season.