What can Beijing learn from the worst flooding in 140 years?

“Reviewing historical patterns, during the 1950s to 1970s, the main rain belt was concentrated in northern China, which later shifted to southern China in the 1980s and 1990s. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the main rain belt has gradually moved northward again,” he said.

“From a historical perspective, northern China is currently experiencing a period of increased heavy rainfall, leading to more frequent extreme weather events and a notable rise in flood occurrences.”

It is therefore critical for meteorological and hydrological departments to improve their forecasts and warning ability, as well as for cities to improve their disaster prevention and mitigation capacity, according to experts.

[...]

“Many of our hydrological stations are in rural areas and in poor condition. When the flood comes, the station can be washed away, affecting the monitoring equipment and information reporting,” he said.

[...]