Home / Disasters and Accidents / Baoding Deluged by Nearly a Year's Worth of Rainfall in 24 Hours
Baoding Deluged by Nearly a Year's Worth of Rainfall in 24 Hours
25 Jul
Summary
- Storms poured nearly a year's rainfall on Baoding, forcing 19,000+ evacuations
- Rainfall in Yi reached 447.4 mm, resetting records in Hebei province
- Hebei has seen consecutive above-average annual precipitation since 2020
On July 25, 2023, severe storms in northern China poured nearly a year's worth of rainfall on the city of Baoding, forcing over 19,000 people to evacuate their homes. The intense downpour, which reached as much as 447.4 mm (17.6 inches) in the western part of Baoding, reset records at numerous weather stations across Hebei province.
Official data shows that Baoding's average annual rainfall typically exceeds 500 mm. However, the deluge on July 25th alone was equivalent to nearly a year's worth of precipitation. In response, authorities evacuated 19,453 people from 6,171 households, though the article does not specify where the residents were relocated.
This extreme weather event is part of a broader pattern of above-average precipitation in the region. Hebei province has recorded consecutive years of higher-than-normal annual rainfall since 2020, with last year's total 26.6% more than the long-term average. Neighboring cities like Zhangjiakou, Langfang, Xiongan and Cangzhou have also experienced 40% more seasonal rainfall than usual, with some areas within Baoding seeing 80% more.
Meteorologists link this intensifying rainfall to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused significant disruptions across China's $2.8 trillion agricultural sector. As climate change continues to drive extreme weather, Chinese authorities remain vigilant in monitoring and responding to severe flooding that threatens to displace millions and strain the country's aging flood defenses.
