Since the beginning of the plum season on June 9, 2024, heavy precipitation emerged in many places in Zhejiang, China. As of June 28, 18 days of precipitation has been tantamount to the annual total precipitation of 30 days during the plum rain season in normal years. 

This weather process was featured by long duration, huge accumulated rainfall, and high risk of disaster hazard. In the face of complex and severe flood control situation, meteorological departments of Zhejiang have responded quickly, carried out progressive meteorological services and adopted high-level early warning "call and response" mechanism in time.

Early deployment and effective coordination in flood prevention

Heavy precipitation plagued parts of southern Zhejiang upon the arrival of plum rain season. From June 16, central and southern Zhejiang was subjected to the heaviest rainfall since the beginning of the plum season.

Meteorological departments in Zhejiang have carried out progressive meteorological services, and reinforced joint prevention and coordination with departments in water conservancy, emergency management, cultural and tourism, transportation, natural resources and others. 

In particular, an expert panel has been established and dispatched to Xin’anjiang River Reservoir to deliver tailored meteorological services. 

Since 8:00 on June 22, meteorological departments at all levels in Zhejiang together with local departments of water conservancy and natural resources have jointly issued 38 warnings of mountain torrents and geological hazards in small river basins, also constantly strengthened the interaction with meteorological counterparts upstream and downstream, and relevant ones in Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi. 

At 14:00 on June 23, with intensifying rain, the water level of the Xin'an River basin continued to rise, and the Xin'an River Reservoir opened the sluice again after four years. The next morning, MA Xinyu, chief service expert of Zhejiang Provincial Meteorological Service Centre, led a team to the Reservoir to conduct on-site meteorological services.

On June 25, the on-duty weather forecaster in Zhejiang Provincial Meteorological Observatory analyzed and judged the rain prediction in the Xin'an River basin. Photoed by SU Guiyang

Early warning and timely response 

Since entering the precipitation concentration period on June 9, Yunhe County in Lishui, Zhejiang has been in the grip of a handful of severe precipitation process, and the surrounding areas and channel of the residential area of the 235 national highway project under construction in Shitang Town have been inundated.

At 14:45 on the June 11, after Yunhe County Meteorological Station issued an orange warning signal for heavy rain, head of the station swiftly called the relevant person in charge. After receiving the reminder, Shitang Town immediately organized personnel to beef up patrol and inspection efforts, and quickly transferred all 299 construction personnel living in the residential area of the 235 national highway project.

Upon entering the plum rain season, meteorological departments across Zhejiang have issued a total of 21 high-level warning signals. Lin'an, Yuhang, Kaihua, and Changshan activated 4 targeted information dissemination for a total of 426,200 times.

MA Xinyu (second from left) discussed the flood condition with the staff, and carried out meteorological services for the flood discharge. Photoed by Zhao Congqi

Early dissemination and frequent scientific popularization

Besides, experts from the meteorological departments of Zhejiang have explained in detail and popularized science on the hot spots of public concern such as the early plum rain to the south of China, the weather service for the college entrance examination, and the impact and prevention of the recent plum rain belt lifting north. During the flood discharge of Xin 'an River Reservoir, the live-broadcast meteorological team jointly interpreted the progress of flood discharge and meteorological service of the Reservoir with the meteorological service chief in real time.

In the meanwhile, meteorological departments of Zhejiang have also joined hands with provincial geological disaster prevention and control department to produce a series of animated videos, harnessing 5G network, media matrix, public audio-visual carrier and other means to disseminate meteorological information and science popularization knowledge in live broadcast, as well as short videos, graphics and other forms. All these measures have effectively disseminated prevention and mitigation information and knowledge about meteorological and geological disasters to the public.

Editor: LIU Shuqiao