
Updated: 02-07-2025
Source: China Meteorological News Press
On June 28, the Flood Control and Drought Relief Command of Rongjiang County Government in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, China, issued a notice upgrading the flood control emergency response from level 2 to level 1, requiring all personnel in seven flood-prone areas to evacuate.
Forecasters of the Prefecture Meteorological Observatory monitored rainfall and analyze future weather conditions. Photoed by YANG Changda
Meteorological departments in Guizhou implemented a “24631” progressive meteorological service mechanism, closely coordinating warning issuance with government emergency responses. This mechanism has provided valuable time for the evacuation and relocation of residents, science-based reservoir management, and the precise deployment of rescue forces.
The “24631” progressive meteorological service involves issuing detailed forecasts for heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours at the city, county, and township level in advance, initiating weather consultations every 6 hours, updating short-range forecasts of heavy rainfall for the next 3 hours every 3 hours, and updating short-range forecasts of heavy rainfall for the next 3 hours every hour.
In response to this flood, Guizhou Provincial Meteorological Service activated an emergency response at 11:00 on June 24, and the Guizhou Provincial Meteorological Observatory continuously provided rolling updates on major meteorological information. During the peak period of heavy rainfall on June 28, the Observatory provided meteorological services to the rescue operations in Rongjiang County every 3 hours, with updates every hour. The relevant information was directly transmitted to the Emergency Command Centre of Department of Emergency Management of Guizhou Province, providing a basis for decision-making for the flood control coordination work of the Provincial Government.
Qiandongnan Prefectural Meteorological Department issued a weather information report at 15:00 on June 27, forecasting a trend of heavy rainfall. The warning signal was rapidly upgraded: A blue warning for heavy rain across the Prefecture was issued at 17:30 on June 27, upgraded to an orange warning at 07:25 on June 28, and decisively elevated to the highest-level red warning at 09:25. Emergency response measures were simultaneously upgraded: A Level 4 response was initiated at 17:00 on June 27, upgraded to Level 3 at 07:30 on June 28, and further upgraded to Level 1 at 09:50.
Meteorological offices in counties such as Rongjiang, Danzhai, and Leishan, which were at the core of the heavy rainfall, acted swiftly upon receiving flood warnings and issued 19 heavy rainfall warning signals by the early morning of June 28. Staff from Danzhai and Leishan Meteorological Offices went to the local emergency management bureaus for joint work during the peak period of heavy rainfall, providing precise and timely meteorological service data for frontline rescue and disaster relief efforts. Since June 25, Rongjiang County Meteorological Office has established 3 meteorological service teams responsible for operations, support, and rescue work, respectively, to continuously update warning information, ensure the stable operation of meteorological operational systems, and conduct road clearance and drainage system maintenance.
In this response to the rainstorm, the provincial, municipal, and county meteorological departments worked together efficiently, with early warnings closely coordinated with government emergency responses, providing valuable time for personnel evacuation, science-based reservoir management, and the precise deployment of rescue strengths.
Special thanks to YANG Chunzhu, DONG Peiyuan, GONG Ke of meteorological departments of Guizhou
Editor: JIANG Zhiqing