Year’s worth of rain in 24 hours causes severe flooding in northern China

According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), 448.7 mm (17.6 inches) of rain fell in Yi County, western Baoding, in the 24-hour period from 06:00 local time (LT) on July 24 to 06:00 LT on July 25. It was the highest single day rainfall on record for the area.

Local reports indicate that nearly all of the rainfall occurred in the 12 hours leading to the morning of July 25. Meanwhile, the highest hourly rainfall intensity was recorded in Renyizhuang village, with 98.1 mm (3.8 inches).

Multiple stations in Baoding and neighboring Zhuozhou reported their highest daily precipitation totals on July 25. The regional flood control headquarters raised emergency alert levels and maintained a red warning for continued heavy rainfall.

Fuping County, Hebei Province, was also hit by heavy rain on the afternoon of July 25, with rainfall reaching 125.9 mm (4.9 inches) in one hour.

Heavy rainfall had begun impacting the region early on July 24, with Shijiazhuang recording 201 mm (7.91 inches) in 6 hours, causing waterlogging on some roads during the morning

Flash floods inundated homes and submerged roads across western Hebei, prompting large-scale evacuations. In some villages, floodwaters reached depths of up to 2 m (6.6 feet), forcing residents to evacuate to rooftops. River levels surged overnight, sweeping away vehicles, household appliances and causing significant property damage.

According to provincial authorities, at least 19 453 residents from 6 171 households were relocated to emergency shelters by 12:00 LT on July 25. However, details on the locations of the emergency shelters were not disclosed.

At the peak of the flooding, Yi County experienced widespread power outages and road washouts in several villages. In adjacent districts such as Zhuozhou, multiple bridges were cut off by floodwaters, further complicating rescue and relief operations.

Authorities in Hebei Province, coordinated by the Ministry of Emergency Management, dispatched 23 000 relief items, including waterproof gear, tents, and emergency kits, to the most affected areas.

National meteorological agencies also issued alerts for neighboring regions, including parts of Beijing, where up to 150 mm (6 inches) of rain was forecast by late July 25.

Rainfall in Baoding alone nearly matched the city’s long-term annual average of 500 mm (19.7 inches). According to the CMA, Hebei has experienced four consecutive years of rainfall anomalies, with 2024 totals reaching 640.3 mm (25.20 inches) — 26.6% above the historical norm.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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