Extreme Rainfall Threatens Northern China as Flood Season Peaks

China has entered its most dangerous flood season of the year, and experts say things could get worse before they get better. Weather scientists warn that heavy rains will hit northern China much harder than usual from late July to early August. Some areas may see 20 to 50 percent more rainfall than normal. A deadly landslide has already struck one region, killing at least eight people and leaving dozens more missing.

On July 17, a large section of a hillside collapsed in Pengshui County, a scenic area about 270 kilometers from the city of Chongqing in southwestern China. The collapse came after days of heavy rain soaked the ground and made the slope unstable. At least eight people died, and rescue teams are still searching for as many as 34 people who are missing. Workers are continuing their efforts even as more storms are expected in the coming days.

China's National Climate Centre has issued warnings for a stretch of time called Qixia Bashang, which runs from mid-July to mid-August and is known as the most critical part of flood season. During this period, large parts of northern China, eastern Inner Mongolia, and the northeastern region are expected to get well above their normal rainfall amounts. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region — which includes China's capital city — is among the areas most at risk. Officials there are urging people to stay alert for flash floods and urban flooding.

Scientists say rising temperatures caused by climate change are pushing rain patterns farther north and west across the country. This shift is turning some drier areas into wetter ones and increasing the chances of dangerous secondary disasters like landslides. Urbanization — the spread of cities and construction — makes these disasters even worse, because concrete and buildings prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground. Professor Xuebin Zhang of the University of Victoria in Canada said the effects of climate change are already being felt.

Some parts of Liaoning province in the northeast have already received more than twice their usual rainfall so far in 2026. Experts say certain areas could face extreme downpours strong enough to cause flash floods, waterlogged city streets, and landslides. Professor Zhang stressed that China needs to do more to adapt to these new weather patterns, not just respond to disasters after they happen. Planning ahead and building better infrastructure could help protect millions of people from the growing dangers of extreme weather.