The Taklimakan Desert in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was blanketed by snow on December 12, 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year this rare phenomenon has occurred in a desert known for its arid conditions and minimal annual precipitation.
A powerful cold wave swept through northeastern China from Monday through Tuesday, November 25 to 26, 2024, bringing Heilongjiang’s heaviest snowstorm of the year. Hegang, a city in the province, received 53 mm (2.1 inches) of snow in just 24 hours, leading to a total accumulation of 37 cm (14.6 inches). Thousands of personnel and machines were mobilized to clear the snow and ensure public safety as temperatures dropped sharply.
Former Super Typhoon “Kong-rey” brought record-breaking rainfall to coastal China after causing significant destruction in Taiwan, where it left 3 people dead and over 500 injured. What’s left of this storm is now moving toward Japan, with western regions already experiencing its effects, expected to last into November 2. Eastern Japan and the Tohoku region are likely to be impacted from November 2 to 3, with risks of landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and rising river levels.
A Level 4 flood warning has been issued for China’s Hainan province after the outer rain belt of Tropical Cyclone “Trami” brought record-breaking rainfall to parts of the province leading to severe floods in the cities of Sanya and Wanning.
Northern China experienced an unusual cold wave in mid-October, with 21 weather stations shattering mid-month temperature records, including Beijing’s rare drop below freezing for the seventh time on record on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Typhoon “Pulasan” made landfall in Shanghai, China, on Thursday, September 19, 2024, bringing in over 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain in just 6 hours. Around 112 000 people were evacuated, barricades were set up, and several trains and ferry services were suspended as precautionary measures.
Tropical Storm “Pulasan” — described as disorganized but still impactful, passed over Okinawa, Japan on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, bringing varying wind speeds to different parts of the region. The storm is now heading towards Shanghai, marking the second storm to hit the city in under a week, following Typhoon “Bebinka”.
Typhoon “Bebinca” triggered over a dozen tornadoes across China’s Jiangsu and Shangdong provinces on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Numerous tornadoes were observed in Sihong, Lanlin, Linyi, Xuzhou and other parts of both the provinces.
Typhoon “Bebinca” struck Jiangsu province in China on Monday, September 16, 2024, with gust speeds of 151 km/h (94 mph), making it the strongest typhoon to hit the province since records began.
Typhoon “Bebinca” made landfall in Shanghai (population 25 million), China at around 07:30 LT on Monday, September 16, 2024, with wind speed around the center of 151 km/h (94 mph). This is the 13th named storm of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season.
