China is facing shifts in climate patterns that intensify droughts and floods as the country reclaims land and endures higher temperatures than in decades past. This summer follows a pattern many officials fear will bring more natural disasters, including floods, typhoons, and sharply rising heat, a trend that climate scientists warn could become the new normal for the region.
The heavy rains drew attention to central China, where authorities reported that fifteen lives were lost in Chongqing and tens of thousands were displaced. Emergency measures were deployed across the area, with hundreds of flood-control crews sent in to protect critical bridges and downstream infrastructure. In nearby Sichuan, the deluge affected nearly half a million people, while in Hunan Province about ten thousand residents had to evacuate. The financial toll mounted, with estimates reaching into the tens of millions of euros as infrastructure suffered. News footage captured remarkable rescues, including a couple rescued from the roof of their car as a drone dropped life jackets and ropes to stranded motorists in the floodwaters.
President Xi Jinping urged ministries to prioritize the protection of life and property, and flood warnings extended to the northeastern provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang. Historical echoes linger from a disaster two years earlier when central Henan Province suffered a flood described by the national press as the worst in a millennium, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of the country to extreme weather events.
more than 35 degrees fifteen days
In the capital and other major cities, the heat becomes a daily challenge. The city has seen an extended spell of intense heat, with June recording more days above 35 degrees Celsius than ever before and several days surpassing 40 degrees. Meteorological authorities report this as the warmest June in over six decades of record-keeping, with data from around seventy weather stations confirming a rising baseline of heat across the country. Four regional heatwaves have already occurred in a single summer, and forecasts suggest July and August could push conditions even higher.
The year’s drought drama continues to unfold in the agricultural heartlands. A drought last year, among the most severe in half a century, affected more than six million hectares and significantly reduced harvest yields. The current dry spell has cut surface runoff and rainfall in the humid Yunnan Province by more than half, while the central plains—China’s traditional grain basket—faced a contrasting problem when heavy rains accelerated germination of crops, leaving less than a tenth of wheat ready for human consumption in some areas. The uneven distribution of rainfall highlights the stark mismatch between drought-prone regions and flood-prone zones that strain irrigation and storage systems.
The heat wave has driven up energy demand for cooling, stressing power grids and triggering supply disruptions in several regions. The nation has faced power shortages in recent years as industrial activity and manufacturing pullback intersect with weather-driven demand spikes, complicating reliability for households and businesses alike.
In traditional lore, the summer months are described as sanfu, three ten-day periods marked by extreme heat and humidity. Cultural wisdom cautions against rapid changes in temperature from cold beverages and cool air, a reminder that daily living adapts to the rhythm of the season. Last year brought a record 30 days of heat that extended to 40 degrees, and early indicators suggest this year could follow a similar trajectory as climate patterns persistently challenge routine comfort and routine energy planning.
Flooding and drought are not isolated events in central and southern China. The Yangtze River systems have repeatedly swelled during the monsoon, creating dangerous overflow that disrupts communities and habitats. Drought and flood narratives run side by side, underscoring a broader climatic trend of increasing frequency and intensity. Experts emphasize that China remains particularly vulnerable to El Niño events and other climate fluctuations, amplified by the country’s large population, vast geographic footprint, and limited freshwater resources.