On May 22, China experienced heavy rainfall in multiple regions, with Wuhan city facing an unprecedented severe downpour. Local meteorological authorities issued a rare rainstorm disaster warning for the first time, leading to severe waterlogging in many areas of the central city. The water level at the Luojia Gate of Wuhan University reached up to one meter, causing transportation disruptions and significantly impacting the lives of residents.
From the early morning until 4 p.m. on May 22, Wuhan city was hit by heavy to torrential rains. According to the Wuhan Water Authority, areas like Hankou, Hanyang, and Wuchang received over 100 millimeters of rainfall, with the Li Gong Da Xue station in Hongshan district recording an accumulated rainfall of 189 millimeters and Yijiadun station in Qiaokou district experiencing an extremely high hourly rainfall intensity of 67.6 millimeters.
At 1:59 p.m. on the same day, the Wuhan Meteorological Bureau issued a red alert for heavy rainfall, anticipating continued intense rainfall in the central urban area, with local accumulations possibly exceeding 200 millimeters. At 3:50 p.m., Wuhan activated the “Rainstorm Disaster Warning” mechanism for the first time.
This extreme weather event in Wuhan not only tested the city’s flood control and drainage systems but also examined the efficiency and collaborative capability of emergency response mechanisms.
The heavy rainfall brought severe inconvenience to the lives of Wuhan residents, with the Luojia Gate of Wuhan University becoming one of the hardest-hit areas due to its low-lying location.
Videos circulating on mainland social media showed water near the Luojia Gate submerging cars, with pedestrians wading through with water levels reaching chest-high. The school authorities urgently guided students to enter and exit through the Chagang Gate or West Gate, and around 7 p.m. that evening, they announced that the waterlogging had been largely cleared.
Apart from the Wuhan University gate, several important roads in Wuhan city experienced varying degrees of waterlogging. Transportation hubs like Wuchang Railway Station’s exit ramps also saw brief water accumulation, causing disruptions in passenger travel. Main roads and underpasses in areas such as Hankou, Wuchang, and East Lake High-tech Zone reported waterlogging at locations like Shaihu Interchange, Hongshan Square, and Bailu Street.
Starting from noon on May 22, the Wuhan Meteorological Bureau issued consecutive red alerts for heavy rainfall and blue alerts for strong winds, warning of the possibility of thunderstorms and strong winds accompanying the heavy rainfall in areas like East Lake High-tech Zone, Changjiang New Area, and Xinzhou, where local rainfall could exceed 200 millimeters. Some areas are expected to experience gusts of wind reaching level 6-8, with elevated risks of geological disasters in mountainous areas and along rivers and lakes.
The Hubei Provincial Meteorological Department also stated that on May 22, many parts of the province would face heavy to torrential rains, with the potential for flash floods, landslides, and other secondary disasters.
According to forecasts from the China Meteorological Administration, heavy rainfall is expected to persist in southern regions until the 24th, affecting areas in Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Fujian. Precipitation may slightly ease on the 25th and 26th before intensifying again from the 27th onwards. Continued heavy rainfall overlapping with previous precipitation areas poses heightened risks of geological disasters and flash floods in Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi, and other regions, warranting high vigilance.