Hey, ever heard of the Dongjiang River? Well, it's making waves—literally! 🌊 For the first time in 2024, this river in South China's Pearl River Basin has flooded, and it's got everyone talking.
China's Ministry of Water Resources announced on Sunday that heavy rainfall has caused water flows at a hydrological station in Huizhou city, Guangdong Province, to surge to 7,000 cubic meters per second as of 8:55 p.m. That's massive! 🚣♂️
The ministry has activated a Level-IV emergency flood control response in the province. If you're wondering, China's flood-control system has four levels, with Level I being the most severe. So, while it's the lowest level, officials are keeping a close eye on the situation. 👀
But wait, there's more! The local meteorological observatory predicts severe convective weather (think intense storms) in Guangzhou from Sunday to Monday, with heavy rain expected mainly in the afternoons. So, if you're in the area, keep that umbrella handy! ☔
And it doesn't stop there. On Tuesday, Guangzhou will continue to face more heavy rain and potential flooding. Sounds like a scene straight out of a disaster movie! 🎬
Since the start of the year, China has experienced 13 severe convective weather events. Sun Shao, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, suggests that the increasing frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events might be due to global temperature rises. 🌡️
\"Warming climates increase surface and ocean evaporation, raising water vapor levels and promoting severe convective weather,\" says Sun. Basically, climate change is turning up the heat and the rain! 🌍
So, what's next? With climate change influencing weather patterns, areas like South China might continue to see more of these intense weather events. Stay safe out there, and keep an eye on the forecasts! 📺
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
Dongjiang River in south China floods for first time in 2024
cgtn.com
