Strong storms and heavy rainfall hit southern China

Heavy rainfall and strong convective weather affected parts of southern China on March 29 and 30, with moderate to heavy rain reported across south-central Guangdong, central Jiangxi, northern Fujian, south-central Jiangsu, and Anhui.

Thunderstorms with wind gusts reaching level 8–10, and locally level 11–12, were recorded in central and southern Guangdong, while snow and sleet occurred across parts of the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

China uses the Beaufort wind force scale to classify wind strength, where level 8 corresponds to approximately 62–74 km/h (39–46 mph), level 10 to 89–102 km/h (55–63 mph), level 11 to 103–117 km/h (64–72 mph), and level 12 indicates winds above 118 km/h (73 mph), associated with severe storm or hurricane-force conditions.

In Guangxi, heavy rainfall was recorded in Yulin, Guigang, and Nanning, where hourly rainfall totals reached 30–73 mm (1.2–2.9 inches). Hail was reported in the western and southern parts of the region.

Severe weather reports from Guangdong show that squall lines produced wind gusts exceeding 110 km/h (70 mph), with higher values up to about 120 km/h (75 mph) recorded in Foshan and nearby areas. The winds caused structural damage, overturned vehicles, and led to the suspension of high-speed rail services. Additional impacts were reported in Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Chaozhou.

Heavy rainfall also caused flooding in parts of Hunan, where 102 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within six hours in Xinhua County. Hailstorms were reported in Guizhou and Yunnan, while strong winds around 125 km/h (78 mph) were recorded in Shanghang County, Fujian, on March 27.

Forecasts issued by the Central Meteorological Observatory indicate that a broad zone of heavy precipitation and strong convection will continue from 20:00 LT on March 30 to 20:00 LT on March 31.

The most affected regions include Guangxi, Guangdong, southern Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Chongqing, and Guizhou. Rainfall totals of 50–70 mm (2–3 inches) are expected, with localized totals exceeding 100 mm (4 inches), especially in northeastern Guangxi and northwestern Guangdong.

Short-duration rainfall is forecast to reach 20–50 mm (0.8–2 inches) per hour, with localized peaks exceeding 60 mm (2.4 inches). The most intense period of convection is expected between 20:00 LT on March 30 and 02:00 LT on March 31, with thunderstorms, hail, and damaging winds likely.

The Central Meteorological Observatory continued both the blue warning for heavy rainfall and the yellow warning for strong convective weather at 18:00 LT on March 30. According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), such conditions increase the risk of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and farmland flooding, and may disrupt transportation, urban operations, and spring planting.

Widespread fog is also forecast across eastern China and nearby coastal waters. Visibility below 1 km (0.6 miles) is expected in the southern Yellow Sea, western East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and coastal areas of Zhejiang and Fujian, as well as the Yangtze River estuary and Hangzhou Bay.

Inland areas, including eastern Shanxi, southeastern Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, central Hunan, southern Zhejiang, northern Fujian, and northwestern Guangxi, will also experience reduced visibility, locally below 500 m (1 640 feet) and in some areas below 200 m (656 feet), creating hazardous conditions for road, rail, and maritime transportation.

Marine areas will experience strong winds, with inland regions seeing winds of 5–6 and gusts of 7–8, while the southeastern Yellow Sea and eastern East China Sea will have stronger winds of 7–8 with gusts up to level 9.

Over the next three days, rain will continue across multiple regions, with rainfall gradually shifting eastward. Heavy rain is expected to affect Zhejiang, Fujian, and southern coastal provinces through April 1.

Snow and sleet will occur across parts of Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, and Inner Mongolia. Heavy snow of 5–6 mm (0.2–0.24 inches) is forecast in southwestern Qinghai and north-central Tibet from March 31 to April 1, followed by heavier snowfall of 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 inches) in central Qinghai from April 1–2.

References:

¹ 天 气 公 报 – NMC – March 30, 2026

² 江南华南等地有较强降水及强对流天气 青藏高原中东部有雨雪 – CMA – March 30, 2026

³ 强对流天气预警 – CMA – March 30, 2026

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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