Sudden deluge in Xinjiang sets daily and hourly records

Hotan prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region recently encountered a rare rainstorm on Saturday, with precipitation totaling a historical high of 64.7 millimeters in 24 hours.

From 12 pm to 1 pm, the rainfall reached 34.3 millimeters, setting hourly record.

Within a three-hour span, from 11 am to 2 pm, rainfall in Hotan reached 53.8 millimeters, exceeding the local average annual precipitation of 47.8 millimeters.

Storm warnings issued by meteorologists for Hotan prefecture and Hotan city rose from blue to red level — a measure of increasing intensity.