Heavy rainfall to shift north as southern China remains drenched

Southern China is set for another spell of widespread rainfall from Tuesday through Thursday, with the heaviest downpours gradually shifting north to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to Weather China, a website affiliated with the China Meteorological Administration.

High humidity will make conditions feel increasingly muggy across many areas, the website said.

The National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for rainstorms on Tuesday morning, the second-highest level in its four-tier warning system.

From Tuesday through Wednesday, torrential rain is forecast to remain concentrated in South China. Beginning Thursday, however, the zone where cold and warm air masses converge will shift to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the main rain belt will move northward, according to the website.

The next three days will also bring frequent showers and thunderstorms to regions including Northeast China and North China, with some areas at risk of severe convective weather, it said.

Guangdong province, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Fujian province should remain vigilant against secondary disasters flash floods, geological hazards, landslides, mudslides and urban waterlogging.

Thanks to persistent rainfall, temperatures across Northeast China and northern parts of North China will remain relatively cool through Wednesday, with daytime highs largely around 25 C. From Thursday, however, temperatures are forecast to rise, with areas experiencing highs above 30 C expected to expand, the website said.

Meanwhile, high temperatures are forecast to develop across the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, western parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi province and the Yellow-Huaihe River Valley in the coming days.

In parts of Shaanxi and Henan provinces, the heat is expected to be dry and intense, accompanied by prolonged periods of strong sunshine.

China has maintained its Level II emergency response for heavy rainfall, the second-highest level in its four-tier emergency response system, according to the Ministry of Transport.

During a video conference on Tuesday, ministry officials held talks with transport authorities from provincial-level regions including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Jilin, Fujian and Guangdong.

Officials urged local agencies to remain on high alert, particularly in areas that have experienced prolonged or concentrated rainfall. They called for closer coordination, clearer accountability and stronger implementation of preventive safety measures to avoid major accidents.