La Nina Creating Difficulties in Flood Forecasts for the Yangtze
Chinese meteorologists are blaming the caprice of La Nina for causing uncertainty in their flood forecasts for the Yangtze River whose lower reaches are still in the grip of rainy weather.
Ji Xuewu, a senior engineer with the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, said that since the beginning of summer, weaker than usual sub-tropical high pressure along the river valley has led to a down flow of cold fronts from the north, bringing more rainfall to the region.
The monitor center is finding it difficult to locate the rain belt, which is deviating from its normal route parallel to the river.
The uncertain movement of the subtropical high pressure is probably a sign of the La Nina phenomenon, he said.
The Yangtze has been relatively high since last month, but thanks to an unobstructed flood discharge path, no heavy casualties have been reported.
The second crest passed Hankou City in central China's Hubei Province yesterday, with a water level of 27.76 meters, 0.46 meters above the danger mark. (Xinhua)
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