China has recently been hit by rare extreme weather events, with the northern regions experiencing record-breaking high temperatures while the southern regions are being devastated by heavy rain causing severe flooding. According to statistics, 18 rivers across the country have seen floods exceeding warning levels, leaving millions of people trapped in disasters, with the unexpected release of water from official reservoirs sparking public dissatisfaction.
In the latter half of June, northern and eastern China continue to endure scorching heat. Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Shanghai, and other areas have successively issued high-temperature warnings, with temperatures in some regions approaching or surpassing historical records.
Following the initial orange high-temperature warning issued by the Beijing Meteorological Observatory on June 4, the alarm was sounded again on the 20th, highlighting the persistence and severity of the high-temperature weather.
As the heatwave expands in scope and intensity, Hebei, Shandong, Shanghai, and other areas have also entered a state of high-temperature alerts. Building upon the orange high-temperature warning issued on June 4, Hebei Province continued to issue warnings on the 21st, with Baoding, Langfang, and other areas reaching temperatures as high as 37℃ to 38℃, with some areas exceeding 39℃.
Jinan in Shandong faces a more severe heat challenge. Meteorological warnings indicate that from the 22nd to the 26th, several areas in the city will continue to endure scorching temperatures, with temperatures in some areas possibly exceeding 40℃.
Coastal cities in the eastern region are also not spared from the heatwave. The Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow high-temperature warning on June 21, marking the fourth high-temperature day of the year. The China Meteorological Administration forecasts that the high-temperature weather will continue to affect northern and eastern China, with temperatures in some areas exceeding 40℃.
The current heatwave exhibits characteristics of wide coverage, prolonged duration, and high intensity, exacerbating the “urban heat island effect” and posing severe challenges to public health, power supply, transportation, and urban infrastructure.
In stark contrast to the northern heatwave, many areas in southern China are facing continuous heavy rainfall and severe flooding woes. From June 18 to 21, the situations of floods intensified in provinces and municipalities such as Hunan, Guangxi, Hubei, Chongqing, and Guizhou, becoming increasingly serious.
On June 21, the China Meteorological Administration continued to issue orange rainstorm warnings, with heavy to torrential rains expected in the southwest, Yangtze-Hanshui, Yangtze-Huai, and northern Jiangnan regions, with localized occurrences of severe rainstorms. The resulting floods, mudslides, and secondary disasters have already caused significant casualties and property losses.
The intense rainfall has led to a sharp rise in water levels in multiple rivers. According to statistics from the Ministry of Water Resources, as of 8:00 on June 21, a total of 18 rivers in the country have experienced floods exceeding warning levels, with the maximum exceeding warning by 3.60 meters.
Among them, the upstream of Liujiang River and its tributaries Machang River and Long River, as well as three small and medium rivers, experienced floods exceeding guaranteed water levels, with the Planyang River, a tributary of the Hongshui River, witnessing the largest flood since measurements began in 2005, setting a new historical record.
The Guangxi Hydrological Center urgently upgraded to issue a yellow flood warning on June 21, with 16 monitoring stations along 13 rivers in the province experiencing floods exceeding warning levels. In Rongan County of Liuzhou City in Guangxi, the water level in the urban river segment reached 115.15 meters, surpassing the alert level.
Currently, nine provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Guizhou have activated a Level IV emergency response for flood control, indicating an extremely severe flood prevention situation.
Hunan province is one of the hardest-hit regions in this round of heavy rain. According to the latest data released by the Hunan Provincial Department of Water Resources, as of June 21, a total of 310 reservoirs in the province have overflowed. Seven cities and prefectures including the Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Zhangjiajie City, and Changde City have cumulatively affected over 400,000 people.
The intensity of the flooding is concerning. Villagers in Xixi Ping Village in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie, reported to New Tang Dynasty Television that several towns in Zhangjiajie have been completely engulfed by floodwaters, with flooding persisting for two days without receding. With no government rescue in sight, villagers have had to evacuate to higher ground for survival.
According to Mr. Wang, a villager from Fengxiangang Village in Yongding District, the concentrated release of floodwater without warning by several hydropower stations has exacerbated downstream flooding, leading to even greater losses for local residents.
The southwest region is also facing significant impacts. Chongqing’s Pengshui and Qianjiang districts have accumulated rainfall exceeding historical levels for the same period, with at least 84,000 people affected across 25 districts, resulting in massive economic losses.
Moreover, the heavy rainfall has caused severe inland flooding in areas such as Lishui in Zhejiang and Zhaoqing in Guangdong. In Liandu District of Lishui City, the main road of Shuidong Village was submerged under floodwaters with a depth of 1.7 meters; in Huiji County, Zhaoqing, the Suijiang Station experienced the largest flood since its establishment, affecting over 180,000 people.
The concurrent occurrence of extreme weather patterns of high temperatures and floods is having a profound impact on China’s social and economic development. Sustained high temperatures are increasing strain on the power grid and agricultural irrigation systems, while heavy rainfall is exposing shortcomings in flood control systems and delayed emergency responses in some areas. Furthermore, the relatively slow official rescue responses in certain regions are further exacerbating the extent of disaster losses.