Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Hit China; Guangxi Recovers

China’s Central Meteorological Observatory issued dual blue alerts for rainstorms and severe convective weather on Monday as southern provinces brace for another round of heavy downpours, while northern regions face thunderstorms and the risk of hail and gale-force winds. The warnings come as recovery efforts accelerate in Guangxi, where devastating floods earlier this month claimed 39 lives and left nine missing.

Current Weather Situation

According to Xinhua News, the Central Meteorological Observatory forecasts heavy to torrential rain over the next three days across South China, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Anhui, as well as the western and central-northern Yangtze River region. Parts of Anhui, northern Jiangxi, northern and eastern Guangxi, and northern Guangdong are expected to experience heavy downpours, with hourly rainfall potentially exceeding 80 millimeters in some areas.

In northern China, China News reported that thunderstorms are expected across Northwest China, North China (including Beijing, Hebei, and Shanxi), Northeast China, and Inner Mongolia. These regions face risks of hail, lightning, and gale-force winds reaching up to Force 11. The observatory warned that severe convective weather could disrupt outdoor activities and transportation.

Adding to the complex weather pattern, a heatwave is forecast over the next ten days across Xinjiang, western Inner Mongolia, western Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan, and the Sichuan Basin, with temperatures ranging from 35 to 41 degrees Celsius. After July 21, large-scale heatwaves of 35 to 38 degrees Celsius are expected across the Yangtze River region.

Guangxi Flood Disaster: A Grim Toll

The latest weather warnings arrive as Guangxi continues to recover from the devastation wrought by Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall in Hainan on July 3 and in Vietnam on July 4. The typhoon brought extreme rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding across the region.

As reported by China News, the Guangxi flood disaster resulted in 39 deaths and 9 missing persons as of July 9. Three reservoirs — the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs in Hengzhou and the Liuwang Reservoir in Binyang — experienced overtopping and breaches. The Dongban River in Binyang County experienced a 1-in-50-year flood event. In total, 64,500 people were evacuated and relocated, with 54,500 from Hengzhou and 9,321 from Binyang.

China’s National Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Relief Committee activated a Level 4 disaster relief emergency response, and the National Development and Reform Commission allocated 100 million yuan (approximately US$13.8 million) for post-disaster recovery.

Jasmine Industry: The Heart of Hengzhou’s Economy

Hengzhou, the world’s largest jasmine flower production base, has been particularly hard hit. According to CNR, 130,000 mu (8,667 hectares) of jasmine fields were affected by flooding, with over 60,000 mu severely impacted. The industry supports approximately 340,000 farmers and has an annual output value of 19 billion yuan (about US$2.6 billion).

Bu Zhaoyang, a researcher at the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, explained that mildly affected fields can resume harvesting after 15 to 30 days of care, moderately affected fields require 40 to 50 days, and severely affected fields need replanting, with stable production expected next year.

Of 178 jasmine tea processing factories in the region, 27 were flooded, with five unable to relocate stored materials in time. Chen Daoping, Deputy Chairman of the Hengzhou Flower Tea Association, told CNR that local tax authorities are studying one-to-five-year deferred or reduced corporate income tax policies. The association has also established industry standards requiring unified harmless disposal of moldy tea to prevent substandard products from entering the market.

Infrastructure and Recovery Progress

Significant progress has been made in restoring critical infrastructure. According to Nanning Deputy Mayor Ding Wei, speaking at a July 9 press conference, the gaps and flow rates at the Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs have stabilized. As of mid-July, 87.7 percent of communication base stations in Hengzhou and Binyang are operational, and 63,000 households have had power restored. Roads have been reopened, including two expressway sections, 32 national and provincial road sections, and 47 rural roads.

The Liulan Reservoir’s water levels have dropped below the dam foundation, and access roads to the dam crest have been repaired, with dredging operations beginning on July 9.

Looking Ahead

Meteorologists warn that the new round of heavy rainfall threatens to exacerbate already severe flooding in Guangxi and the Yangtze River region, potentially setting back recovery efforts. Secondary disaster risks, including mountain floods, geological disasters, and medium-to-small river flooding, remain high in areas where the ground is already saturated.

The frequency of extreme weather events — 50-year floods, record heat, and an active typhoon season — aligns with climate change projections for China, raising questions about long-term infrastructure resilience and the need for upgrades to aging dams and flood control systems built in the 1950s.

For now, authorities across multiple provinces remain on high alert, balancing the urgent need for continued rescue and recovery operations with preparations for the weather challenges ahead.