Rare tornado damages flower nurseries and greenhouses in Fujian, China
A rare tornado struck Yongfu Town in Zhangping, China’s Fujian Province, on the afternoon of May 12, 2026, damaging dozens of flower nurseries and greenhouses in the area.
Extreme April rainfall floods Qinzhou after 538 mm (21.1 inches) in 12 hours, China
Torrential rainfall inundated urban districts in Qinzhou, Guangxi, southern China, on April 27, 2026, forcing more than 200 residents to evacuate after streets turned into fast-moving channels and floodwaters spread into residential areas. A reported 538 mm (21.1 inches) of rain fell in 12 hours across Qinzhou and Beihai, with peak 1-hour rainfall reaching 147.7 mm (5.8 inches).
Strong storms and heavy rainfall hit southern China
Heavy rainfall and strong convective weather affected southern China on March 29–30, with severe thunderstorms, hail, and wind gusts exceeding 110 km/h (70 mph) reported in Guangdong and surrounding regions. According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), further heavy rain and strong convection will continue from the evening of March 30 through March 31, with rainfall totals of 50–70 mm (2–3 inches), locally exceeding 100 mm (4 inches).
Large sandstorm impacts southern Xinjiang as cold-air outbreak strengthens over northern China
A large-scale sandstorm affected southern Xinjiang, China, on March 13, 2026, as strong winds associated with a regional cold wave mobilized desert dust across the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
Heavy snowfall across northern China triggers emergency responses
Northern China experienced widespread snowfall on March 1, 2026, with snow cover exceeding 250 000 km² (96 525 mi²) and a maximum snow depth of 23 cm (9 inches). The event prompted emergency responses across several provinces, including Hebei, Shanxi, and Gansu, according to official reports.
Bright predawn meteor observed across multiple provinces in western China
A bright fireball was observed over western China at around 21:00 UTC on February 5, 2026, with sightings reported across Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai. Videos and eyewitness accounts show a fast-moving, luminous streak crossing the predawn sky, ending in a bright terminal flash.
Rapid ice breakup causes flood in Kanas Scenic Area, northwest China
A sudden ice flood occurred on January 5, 2026, in the Kanas Scenic Area of Xinjiang, China, sending large ice blocks rushing downstream in the Kanas River. The short-lived event was captured on video and later described by local authorities as a localized “ice flood” caused by ice breakup due to warmer temperatures.
Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits NW China, Yellow alert for economic losses issued
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.8 struck southern Xinjiang, China at 07:44 UTC (13:44 local time) on December 4, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and a Yellow alert for economic losses.
Debris strike on Shenzhou-20 leads to rare evacuation-capability gap on Tiangong station
China launched the uncrewed Shenzhou-22 spacecraft at 04:11 UTC on November 25, 2025, to restore a safe return option for the three-member Tiangong space station crew, after debris damage earlier in the month rendered their original Shenzhou-20 return module unusable. The previous crew returned using the Shenzhou-21 arrival vehicle, leaving the current crew without an evacuation craft until Shenzhou-22’s launch. The astronauts remain in stable condition as docking procedures proceed.
Typhoon Ragasa makes landfall in Yangjiang City, Guangdong, after leaving 17 dead in Taiwan
Ragasa made landfall over the coast of China’s Guangdong Province at 17:00 LT (09:00 UTC) on September 24, 2025, as a severe typhoon, with sustained winds of 145 km/h (90 mph). The storm caused widespread disruption across southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, where at least 17 people were killed in flooding a day earlier.
