Record-breaking heavy rainfall hits N.China’s Hebei Province, with a maximum 24-hour precipitation of 375.2 mm recorded in Fuping County. Photo from Weather China

Unevenly distributed rainfall occurred across Hebei Province in North China from 6:00 am Friday to 6:00 am on Saturday, according to the Hebei Meteorological Observatory. A maximum 24-hour precipitation of 375.2 mm was recorded, and a new local single-hour rainfall record of 115.4 mm was set, CCTV News reported on Saturday.  

Monitoring data from national and regional stations showed eight stations with extreme rainstorms and 49 with heavy rainstorms. The highest precipitation was recorded at the Fuping station in Baoding, reaching 375.2 mm (classified as an extreme rainstorm).

Notably, between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Friday, the hourly rainfall reached 115.4 mm, breaking the local historical record for single-hour precipitation, according to CCTV News.

According to the China Meteorological Administration(CMA), heavy rainfall hit northern and northeastern China, while scattered downpours occurred in the east and southwest.

The CMA forecasts that over the next three days, northern parts of North China, Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and surrounding regions will continue to experience heavy rainfall, accompanied by brief downpours, thunderstorms, gales, or hail. Authorities warned of potential risks, including flash floods, landslides, and flooding in small- to mid-sized rivers.

According to CCTV News, on Saturday, the Office of Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in Fuping County, Baoding City, reported that from 5:00 pm on Friday to 1:00 am on Saturday, the county experienced an exceptionally rare and intense rainstorm. The average precipitation across the county reached 234 mm, with the highest rainfall recorded at Xizhuang Station reaching 540 mm. The maximum hourly rainfall intensity hit 145 mm/h, breaking historical records. The downpour was brief but extremely intense, resulting in severe damage.

Preliminary statistics show that as of press time, the torrential rain had affected 46,235 residents across five townships in the county, with 4,655 people from 1,289 households relocated for safety.