Beijing/New Delhi: Severe weather conditions have caused widespread disruption across parts of Asia, with deadly flooding reported in southern and central China, while northern India continues to battle an intense heatwave.
Heavy and persistent rainfall across several regions in China has triggered warnings for flash floods, landslides, and severe waterlogging. The rain system stretched across nearly 1,000 kilometers and gradually moved eastward on May 19.
Meteorologists said that the slow-moving rainfall band developed from the convergence of weather systems originating from the Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Combined with weak wind conditions, the system produced exceptionally high rainfall totals across multiple provinces.
Authorities reported rainfall accumulations of up to 75mm in Hunan, 85mm in Anhui within 24 hours, and nearly 95mm on Hainan Island. The severe flooding has claimed at least 12 lives, while emergency teams evacuated hundreds of residents from affected areas.
The extreme weather also caused major travel disruptions, power outages, and temporary closures of schools and businesses. Videos circulating on social media showed flooded streets, submerged vehicles, and residents navigating through deep water, with some even seen fishing in inundated urban areas.
Meanwhile, northern India is experiencing dangerously high temperatures, prompting heat warnings across New Delhi and surrounding regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and other northern states.
Temperatures exceeding 40 °C have become widespread across northern and central India this week, with some areas recording temperatures more than 5 °C above seasonal nighttime averages.
The city of Banda recorded a maximum temperature of 48.2 °C on May 20, followed by 47.6 °C on May 21. In New Delhi, temperatures climbed to 44.4 °C on May 20 before rising further to 45.3 °C on May 21.
In rural communities, many farmers have shifted work activities to nighttime hours to avoid the dangerous daytime heat. Authorities have advised residents to remain hydrated and avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest parts of the day.
Weather experts linked the ongoing heatwave to reduced seasonal rainfall, with severe conditions expected to continue into next week. Forecasts indicate temperatures above 45 °C could persist until at least May 27, when thunderstorms are expected to bring more unstable weather conditions across northern India.
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