July 2016 North China cyclone

The July 2016 North China cyclone was a devastating extratropical cyclone which produced torrential precipitation and caused widespread flash floods over North China and portions of nearby regions, resulting in at least 184 deaths and ¥33.19 billion (US$4.96 billion) of damage in China.[2][3]

July 2016 North China cyclone
The extratropical cyclone at peak intensity over North China on July 20, 2016
Meteorological history
FormedJuly 16, 2016
DissipatedJuly 21, 2016
Extratropical cyclone
Lowest pressure994 hPa (mbar); 29.35 inHg
Maximum rainfall881 mm (34.69 in)[1]
Overall effects
Fatalities184
Missing130
Damage$4.96 billion (2016 USD)(Preliminary total)
Areas affectedCentral, North, Northeast and Southwest China

Meteorological history edit

 
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
  Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The meiyu front persisted over the region between Huai River and Yangtze during mid-July 2016 since the dissipation of Typhoon Nepartak.[4] Meanwhile, the subtropical ridge over the northwest Pacific Ocean was located unusually southward and westward, which blocked the Southwest Monsoon and made it completely flow into mainland China.[5] On July 19, as the westerlies collided with the strong Southwest Monsoon, cyclogenesis began within the front and formed an extratropical cyclone over Henan, China at around 20:00 CST (12:00 UTC).[6] The cyclone quickly reached peak intensity at around 02:00 CST (18:00 UTC) on July 20, with the central pressure at 994 hPa (29.35 inHg).[7] Drifting north-northeastward with surface sustained winds below gale-force, the system started to weaken slowly in the province of Hebei after 14:00 CST (06:00 UTC) and occluded right before 02:00 CST (18:00 UTC) on July 21, owing to the disconnection from the Southwest Monsoon.[8][9][10] It became almost stationary near Beijing until it dissipated after 20:00 CST (12:00 UTC) on July 21.[11]

Impact edit

 
A muddy village in Xingtai

Throughout the municipalities of Beijing, Chongqing and Tianjin as well as the provinces of Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan and Yunnan, the extratropical cyclone brought torrential rainfalls and caused severe flash floods, which affected 15,597,000 people, with 184 deaths, 130 missing and ¥33.19 billion (US$4.96 billion) of damage. 575,000 people were evacuated, and 155,000 people need an emergency relief. More than 129,500 houses are collapsed, and at least 361,000 houses are damaged. The damaged agricultural areas are 12,049 km2, including 807 km2 (312 sq mi) of the destroyed agricultural areas.[2][3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2016年中国十大天气气候事件评选结果". 中国天气网 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  2. ^ a b "华北东北黄淮强降雨致289人死亡失踪" (in Chinese). Ministry of Civil Affairs. July 25, 2016. Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "西南部分地区洪涝灾害致80余万人受灾" (in Chinese). Ministry of Civil Affairs. July 25, 2016. Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Database of Weather Charts for Hundred Years". Digital Typhoon. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  5. ^ 鄭明典 (July 18, 2016). "異常的太平洋副熱帶高壓帶". Facebook (in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  6. ^ "Marine Weather Warning for GMDSS Metarea XI 2016-07-19T12:00:00Z". WIS Portal – GISC Tokyo. Japan Meteorological Agency. July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "List of weather charts on July 19, 2016 (Tue)". Digital Typhoon. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "Marine Weather Warning for GMDSS Metarea XI 2016-07-20T06:00:00Z". WIS Portal – GISC Tokyo. Japan Meteorological Agency. July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "List of weather charts on July 20, 2016 (Wed)". Digital Typhoon. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  10. ^ 朱茜 (July 20, 2016). "谁是北方极端暴雨的"罪魁祸首"?" (in Chinese). China News Service. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "天気図 平成28年7月21日21時" (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. July 21, 2016. Archived from the original (PNG) on July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.

External links edit