Record-breaking rainfall hits south China

South China has experienced unprecedented levels of precipitation, with amounts more than doubling the average for this period, marking it the second-highest since 1961. Meteorologists attribute this surge in rainfall to global warming coupled with a strong El Nino effect. Zheng Zhihai, chief forecast at the National Climate Center, noted that the increased atmospheric moisture and heightened temperatures have spurred frequent and intense rainstorms across provinces such as Guangdong and Zhejiang. The early onset of the flood season this April led to the earliest numbered floods since 1998 in the Pearl River Basin. The forecast anticipates continued heavy rains, raising concerns about potential geological disasters in affected areas.