Heavy rain, late typhoon season in China raises climate concerns

For the first time since 1949, China did not log a single typhoon in the month of July

A swollen Tuojiang River yesterday, following heavy rain in south-western Sichuan province. Heavy rain lashed 27 out of 31 of the country's provinces since June this year. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A swollen Tuojiang River yesterday, following heavy rain in south-western Sichuan province. Heavy rain lashed 27 out of 31 of the country's provinces since June this year. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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Typhoon Hagupit barrelled into China's eastern Zhejiang province and Shanghai earlier this month, bringing heavy rain, which was a relief for a region sweltering in summer heat.

Its arrival on Aug 4 was well overdue. Hagupit was the first typhoon to make landfall on the Chinese mainland in well over a month - highly unusual considering that the July to September period is peak typhoon season for China, say Chinese meteorologists.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 19, 2020, with the headline Heavy rain, late typhoon season in China raises climate concerns. Subscribe