China Issues Dual Weather Warnings for Heavy Rain and Severe Storms
China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued dual blue-level weather warnings on July 19, forecasting persistent heavy rain across southern provinces while warning of severe convective weather — including Level 8+ thunderstorm gales and hail — across northern regions encompassing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and the Northeast. The warnings come as the country enters the critical “七下八上” (mid-July to mid-August) flood prevention period, with the Ministry of Water Resources reporting that 609 rivers have already exceeded warning levels this year — 35% more than the five-year average, according to CCTV News.
Warnings and Affected Regions
The NMC issued a Blue Rainstorm Warning at 06:00 Beijing time, valid from 08:00 July 19 to 08:00 July 20, covering a broad swath of southern China. Heavy to torrential rain is forecast for southeastern Guizhou, central and northern Guangxi, southwestern through eastern Hunan, eastern Hubei, central and southern Anhui, central and northern Jiangxi, central and southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, and southwestern Yunnan. Localized extreme downpours of 100 to 200 millimeters are expected in northeastern Guangxi, northeastern Hunan, northwestern Jiangxi, southwestern Anhui, and southwestern Yunnan, with maximum hourly rainfall reaching 20 to 50 millimeters and locally exceeding 70 millimeters.
Simultaneously, the NMC issued a Blue Severe Convective Weather Warning covering central and southern Inner Mongolia, central and western Northeast China, northeastern North China (including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei), eastern Jianghuai, central Jiangnan, and northwestern South China. These areas face Level 8 or higher thunderstorm gale winds, hail, and short-duration heavy rainfall. An updated warning issued at 10:00 expanded the affected area to include parts of northwestern China, southern Northeast China, northern North China, and the Huanghuai region, as confirmed by the NMC official warning page.
Flood Season Context
The dual warnings arrive as China has entered the most intense phase of its annual flood season. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, as reported by 21st Century Business Herald, 25 numbered floods have occurred in major rivers since the start of the flood season, with 97 small-to-medium rivers exceeding guaranteed water levels and 14 rivers recording their highest floods ever. Both northern and southern China are forecast to experience above-normal rainfall during the critical period, with flooding risk greater than drought risk overall.
In the past 24 hours alone, seven rivers in Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Xinjiang exceeded warning levels, according to a separate 21st Century Business Herald report. The Ministry of Water Resources has already activated emergency responses in multiple provinces, indicating a proactive approach to flood prevention.
Defense Guidelines and Public Safety
The NMC published a five-point set of defense guidelines urging government preparedness, public safety measures, livestock protection, maritime precautions, and drainage system checks. Residents in affected areas are advised to avoid outdoor activities, secure loose structures, and prepare for potential flash flooding and urban waterlogging.
The severe convective weather warning was forecast by Yan Dachun and Fan Liqiang, and signed by Dong Quan at the National Meteorological Center.
Broader Implications
The 2026 flood season has been exceptionally active, with river flooding 35% above the five-year average. July is a critical month for crop growth in China, and heavy rain and hail in major agricultural regions — including Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, and the Northeast — could damage summer crops. Major cities under threat of urban waterlogging include Nanning, Changsha, Nanchang, Hefei, Nanjing, and Hangzhou, where short-duration rainfall could exceed 70 millimeters per hour.
What to Watch
Both warnings remain at the blue level — the lowest tier in China’s four-tier color-coded system — indicating caution rather than emergency. However, with the “七下八上” period only beginning and multiple river systems already under stress, authorities may upgrade warnings to yellow or orange levels as weather systems develop. The interaction between forecast rainfall and already-swollen rivers will be a critical factor in determining flood risk in the coming days.
This article was compiled from official Chinese government sources and state media reports.