Southern China has entered a period of concentrated heavy rainfall, with parts of Guangdong and Guangxi experiencing exceptionally heavy downpours. Several meteorological stations have recorded rainfall amounts that broke historical records. According to the National Meteorological Center, from Monday to Wednesday (June 15 to 17), frequent episodes of heavy rain will continue across South China.
"Dragon Boat Rain" is a large-scale heavy rainfall phenomenon in southern China that occurs around the Dragon Boat Festival (late May to early June), caused by the collision of cold and warm air masses.
Since last Friday night, a new round of heavy rainfall has occurred in southern China, with parts of Guangdong and Guangxi hit by extremely heavy rainstorms.
The meteorological department reported that from 8 p.m. last Sunday (the 14th) to 11 a.m. the next day (the 15th), the largest rainfall in Guangxi was observed at Nan'an Village, Tangbu Town, Teng County, Wuzhou City, reaching 380.5 millimeters, categorized as an exceptionally heavy rainstorm.
In Guangdong, this round of rain has mainly affected areas such as Jieyang, Shanwei, Shantou, and Huizhou. Meteorological and hydrological monitoring shows that from 8 a.m. last Sunday to 8 a.m. the next day, 684 towns and subdistricts in Guangdong experienced heavy rain. Among them, Lufeng City in Shanwei recorded the province's highest rainfall amount of 709.5 millimeters.
In Huilai, Guangdong, rainfall reached 347.3 millimeters, breaking the local single-day June rainfall record. In Donggang Village, Donggang Town, Huilai County, rainfall reached as much as 671.2 millimeters—more than twice the previous local record.
The heavy rainfall has caused flooding in many places, with some trains on the Jingjiu Railway taking measures such as rerouting, suspending, or turning back.
The National Meteorological Center forecasts that over the next three days, frequent heavy rainfall will continue across South China, with total rainfall in central and southern Guangdong and Guangxi generally exceeding 100 millimeters, and some areas on the east side of the Pearl River Delta possibly surpassing 400 millimeters.
Meteorological experts explain that recently, warm and humid air currents have been strong in South China, with a persistent low-level shear line. The updrafts near the shear line carry moisture aloft, which then condenses into rainstorm clouds, easily leading to heavy rainfall. When the rain systems move slowly and rain bands repeatedly pass over the same area, a "train effect" is produced—like multiple carriages passing repeatedly over the same track—resulting in accumulated rainfall easily reaching the level of heavy or exceptionally heavy rainstorms.
In addition to significant cumulative rainfall, the intensity of rain in South China has also been very strong, displaying convective characteristics. The maximum hourly rainfall generally reaches 30 to 50 millimeters, and may locally exceed 100 millimeters.
Meteorological experts warn that combined with the intensity of the rain and the high degree of rainfall zone overlap, soil moisture will quickly become saturated, increasing the risks of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and urban flooding. The public is urged to guard against secondary disasters and to avoid going to mountains, river valleys, and other areas prone to geological hazards.