July 22, 2005

Flooding in June, Typhoon in July

1.  Heavy rain beginning in mid-June resulted in severe floods and landslides in Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Guangxi provinces.  The flooding began around June 20 and peaked a week later.  

Rainfall June 11-20, 2005.  Heavy rain in southern China caused flooding.

Flooding was concentrated in the Pearl River basin (Guangzhou).  Serious losses were reported in Wuzhou (Guangxi/Guangdong border).  

2.  Drier weather finally returned to southern China in early July.  Soil moisture levels quickly dropped in response to the hot and mostly dry weather.  More rain will be needed this month to maintain adequate moisture for late rice, sugar, and other cash crops.

3.  Up to 12 inches of rain fell in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, and parts of Hubei, Sichuan and southern Shandong in early July.  Local flooding was reported, but damage was not significant.  (Bengbu, Anhui)

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4.  Typhoon Haitang hits Taiwan on July 18 and mainland China on July 19.  

Source:  weather.com

5.  The Yangtze Basin became unfavorably dry in June and early July.  Beneficial rain in mid-July eased dryness.

6.  The typhoon brought cooler temperatures and beneficial rain to Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, which had been trending hot and dry.  (Nanchang, Jiangxi)

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Percent Soil Moisture - July 10, 2005 - Dry in the Yangtze River basin.

Rainfall - July 11-20, 2005 - Favorable rain in the Yangtze River basin

For more information, contact Paulette Sandene
with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division,
Center for Remote Sensing Analysis at (202) 202-690-0133.