Cold front ends southern China rains as temperatures head for half-year lows
In short
Rain across most of southern China is easing and giving way to clear weather from 5 October, with the national meteorological centre forecasting that precipitation will pause across most of the country from 5 to 7 October. Minimum temperatures in the south are expected to set new lows for the second half of the year, and Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning are set to drop below 20°C for the first time this half year, CLS and Jiemian reported. The cold air brought sub-zero morning temperatures to northern North China and under 10°C in urban Beijing, while eastern and southern sea areas face strong northerly winds through 8 October.
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Rain across most of southern China is easing and giving way to clear weather from 5 October, according to forecasts carried by CLS, Jiemian and China News Service. The national meteorological centre expects precipitation to pause across most of the country from 5 to 7 October, with the weather improving and suitable for outdoor activities, and says sunny or cloudy conditions with little rainfall will prevail through the end of the first ten days of October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Temperatures are falling. Xinhua, CLS and Jiemian reported that minimum temperatures in much of southern China will set new lows for the second half of the year, with Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning dropping below 20°C for the first time this half year; CLS advised the public to adjust clothing as temperatures change. China News Service, citing the centre’s monitoring, said the cold air moving east and south brought temperature drops and strong winds to central and eastern China over the previous day, 4 October, with minimum temperatures in northern North China below 0°C and urban Beijing under 10°C on the morning of 5 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The rain area pushed further south on 4 October, with heavy or torrential rain in parts of Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi, China News Service reported. For 5 October it forecast moderate to heavy rain, locally torrential, in parts of southeastern Tibet, the central and southern Sichuan plateau, western Yunnan, southeastern Heilongjiang, northeastern Jilin, southeastern Fujian and Hainan Island. [ 4 ]
Winds are also a factor. The centre forecast force 4–6 winds with gusts of force 7–8 on 5 October in northern Xinjiang, central and eastern Inner Mongolia, northern Shanxi, northern Hebei and the Shandong peninsula. From 5 to 8 October, eastern and southern sea areas will have force 6–8 northerly winds with gusts of up to force 9. [ 4 ]
Meteorological experts said the latter part of the National Day holiday will see generally good weather suitable for travel, but warned that strong rain will continue in Yunnan, the Sichuan plateau and Hainan Island, requiring precautions against secondary disasters and stronger safety management for tourism, transport and urban operations. They advised keeping warm as temperatures swing in central and eastern China and as the day-night temperature difference is large in the north, and said strong coastal winds could affect maritime transport and coastal tourism. Tourists were urged to follow weather warnings and scenic area notices and to plan trips accordingly. [ 4 ]
CLS and Jiemian carried the same summary of the forecast, with Jiemian attributing it to CCTV News, while Xinhua’s report was published as a headline. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The cold snap and rain arrive during the latter part of China’s National Day holiday, when large numbers of people travel. The meteorological centre advised precautions against secondary disasters in Yunnan, the Sichuan plateau and Hainan Island and against wind impacts on maritime transport and coastal tourism. The first sub-20°C readings in southern cities mark the season’s shift.
Key facts
- Rain in most of southern China is ending and the region is turning clear from 5 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Minimum temperatures in much of southern China will set new lows for the second half of the year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning will fall below 20°C for the first time this half year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- On the morning of 5 October, minimum temperatures in northern North China fell below 0°C and urban Beijing was under 10°C, according to the national meteorological centre’s monitoring. [ 4 ]
- Parts of Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi saw heavy or torrential rain on 4 October as the rain area pushed further south. [ 4 ]
- From 5 to 8 October, eastern and southern sea areas will have force 6–8 northerly winds with gusts up to force 9. [ 4 ]
- Forecasters expect little precipitation across most of the country through the end of the first ten days of October, with sunny or cloudy weather prevailing. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Rain across most of southern China is ending and giving way to clear weather from 5 October. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Minimum temperatures in southern China will set new lows for the second half of the year in many places. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning will drop below 20°C for the first time this half year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- From 5 to 8 October, eastern and southern sea areas will have force 6–8 northerly winds with gusts of up to force 9. [ 4 ]
- Most of the country will see little precipitation and mainly sunny or cloudy weather through the end of the first ten days of October. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How far temperatures will fall in most southern cities. The documents give no specific minimum figures beyond saying Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning will drop below 20°C, and their forecasts end on 7–8 October.
- Whether the heavy rain in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi on 4 October caused damage. Only China News Service mentions the rainfall, and it reports no damage or casualty figures.
- The detail of Xinhua’s report on the cold snap. Document 1 is available only as a headline, so its content cannot be checked against the other outlets.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Xinhua reports that rain in most of the south has stopped and that temperatures in South China and other areas will hit new lows for the second half of the year. [ 1 ]
- CLS reports the rain ending and turning clear across most of the south, and says Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Nanning will fall below 20°C for the first time this half year. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian carries the same forecast, attributing it to CCTV News. [ 3 ]
- China News Service, citing the national meteorological centre, reports the cold air’s passage: sub-zero morning temperatures in northern North China, under 10°C in urban Beijing, a pause in precipitation nationwide on 5–7 October and strong winds in eastern and southern sea areas. [ 4 ]