Beijing Climate Centre

Drought relieved in North China and Inner Mongolia

2008-03-27

March 21, National Climate Center, National Satellite Meteorological Center, National Meteorological Center, Inner Mongolia Provincial Climate Center, Heilongjiang Provincial Climate Center, Jilin Provincial Climate Center, and Hubei Provincial Climate Center hold a joint consultation meeting of the recent drought. Experts had consultation and discussion on the current drought situation and future trend of the next week, and reached the following conclusions:

From the beginning of 2008, the precipitation of most of Northeast China, eastern of North China and Inner Mongolia are 30-80% less than ordinary year. According to statistics, the area mean precipitation of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces are only 6.2mm from January 1 to March 20, it’s the least since 1951. According to the latest monitoring data, southeastern Heilongjiang, eastern Jilin and Liaoning, central and eastern Inner Mongolia, most of Hubei, Beijing and Tianjin suffered a moderate to severe drought, and special drought in some areas.

Am. 8 on March 21- Am. 8 on March 22, eastern part of Northwest China, North China, west of Northeast China and central and east of Inner Mongolia, had a light to moderate rain. It’s very favorable for dust suppression and drought reliever.

According to the prediction of Central Meteorological Office, Northeast China and northeastern Inner Mongolia will have more overcast and rainy weather in next week, and it is expected to further relieve the drought. But the drought may be sustained in some parts of northern of North China.