"This year, Beijing has had a lot of rain!" The flood season has just ended, and many people suggest that it rained much more than before, which has been confirmed by statistical data.

According to the Beijing Meteorological Service, from June 1 to September 15 this year, the average rainfall in the city was 666.7 millimeters, which is more than 60 percent higher than a normal year for the same period, ranking the third since 1961 in historical records. Among the 20 meteorological stations, the station with the highest rainfall is Huairou Station, which measured a rainfall of 929.7 millimeters, nearly double the normal level for the same period.

Why has the rainfall been so abundant this year? According to the Beijing Climate Center, phasal atmospheric circulation anomaly is the main reason for the heavy rainfall in Beijing during this year's flood season. This is especially the case after Beijing enters the main flood season. The Western Pacific subtropical high has moved northward to North China and stayed there for a long time. The summer monsoon has also moved into the same region, guiding the abundant warm and humid air from the Western Pacific, the South China Sea, and the Bay of Bengal to the north and providing ample water vapour for Beijing.

During this year's flood season, Beijing had a significantly higher rainfall, which was distributed unevenly such that some localities experienced particularly intense rain. There have been 12 rainfall events with accumulated precipitation exceeding 100 millimeters, and two rainfall events exceeding 200 millimeters, in a single station of the city.

From July 20 to August 10 is the main flood season when Beijing usually experiences a period of concentrated heavy rainfall. Following the end of this period, it tends to rain less frequently. But this year was a different story. It continued to rain until late August, and there was even a torrential rain on August 26, giving people the impression that the main flood season had been extended.

Today, Beijing experienced another significant rainfall, accompanied by a north gentle to moderate breeze. The cold air not only brought wind and rain, but is also likely to herald the city's fall colors.

Source: Beijing Daily App