China tropical cyclone rainfall climatology

China is a mountainous country, which leads to rapid dissipation of cyclones that move inland as well as significant amounts of rain from those dissipating cyclones. Typhoon Nina in 1975 caused the collapse of two huge reservoirs and ten smaller dams when 1062 mm (41.81 inches) of rain fell in Henan Province during a 24‑hour period. Super Typhoon Carla was the wettest tropical cyclone on record for mainland China.^{[citation needed]} Since 1957, there has been a downward trend in tropical cyclone rainfall for the country.^{[citation needed]}

Mainland

Most of the rain China experiences during the year occurs during the summer months. Typhoons cause many of the intense rains seen within the country. The heavy rains occur over a large area, typically 1,000,000 square kilometres (390,000 mi²). Across China between the years of 1983 and 2006, an average of 2.9 tropical cyclones move into Guangdong province, making it the most affected province within mainland China. Hainan averages 1.3 tropical cyclones annually, while Fujian experiences 1.2 tropical cyclones annually, and Zhejiang witnessed 0.9 tropical cyclones annually.^{[citation needed]} The wettest tropical cyclone on record for the mainland was Super Typhoon Carla, which dropped 2,749 millimetres (108.2 in) of rain over a 48-hour period. Typhoon Nina (1975) produced the highest areal average rainfall amounts between August 4 and August 8 for the Hongru river basin for most time durations. The risk of tropical cyclones across Guangxi, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Liaoning provinces is significantly lower, with these provinces averaging between 0.1 and 0.4 tropical cyclones annually.

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in Mainland China
Highest-known totals

Precipitation			Storm	Location	Ref.
Rank	mm	in
1	1629.0	64.13	Nina 1975	Banqiao Dam
2	951.0	37.4	In-fa 2021	Yuyao
3	831.1	32.72	Fitow 2001	Changjiang County
4	806.0	31.73	Soudelor 2015	Wenzhou
5	744.8	29.32	Doksuri 2023	Wangjiayuan Reservoir
6	662.0	26.01	Chanthu 2021	Dinghai District, Zhoushan
7	600.0	24.00	Haikui 2012	Anhui Province
8	555.0	21.85	Chanchu 2006	Zhangpu County

Hong Kong

Typhoon Sam of the 1999 Pacific typhoon season became the wettest known tropical cyclone to impact Hong Kong since records began in 1884, breaking a 73‑year‑old record. A total of 23.98 inches/609 mm of rainfall fell between August 22 and August 25.

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants Hong Kong
Highest-known totals

Precipitation			Storm	Location	Ref.
Rank	mm	in
1	632.0	24.90	Haikui 2023	Hong Kong Observatory
2	616.5	24.27	Sam 1999	Hong Kong Observatory
3	597.0	23.50	July 1926 Typhoon	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
4	562.0	22.13	June 1916 Typhoon	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
5	530.7	20.89	Agnes 1965	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
6	519.0	20.43	Agnes 1978	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
7	516.1	20.32	Ellen 1976	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
8	497.5	19.59	Dot 1993	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
9	491.7	19.36	Dot 1982	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong
10	480.9	18.93	Helen 1995	Royal Observatory, Hong Kong

Lantau Island

Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants Lantau Island
Highest-known totals

Precipitation			Storm	Location	Ref.
Rank	mm	in
1	700	27.56	Ira 1993

Tibet Autonomous Region

An early October 2004 tropical depression brought moisture into the highlands of Tibet, leading to daily precipitation of 60 mm/2.4 inches liquid equivalent to Che-Ku County all in the form of heavy snow, which was a new October daily precipitation record for both rain and snow. This led to a loss of 340,000 kg of food, 230,000 kg of forage grass, and 263 livestock in the snowstorm.

See also

• List of wettest tropical cyclones
• List of wettest tropical cyclones by country
• Tropical cyclone
• Tropical cyclone rainfall climatology
• Tropical cyclone rainfall forecasting