From July 8 to 31, Hunan’s average rainfall was lower than normal but the average temperature was higher. Meteorological drought in Central and Northern Hunan developed rapidly from July 22.

 

Meteorological departments at all levels seized the opportunity to carry out 116 artificial rainfall operations in 12 cities and 49 counties (cities and districts) since July, with a cumulative impact of about 16,000 square kilometers and an increase of about 500 million tons in rainfall, effectively alleviating the high temperature and drought.

 

In response to the persistent hot weather, a director of the Provincial Meteorological Bureau said the meteorological departments at all levels would carry out aerial and ground-based cloud seeding operations to meet the needs of human and animal drinking water, industrial and agricultural production and ecological water in arid areas.

 

Efforts will be made to start artificial rainfall operations in the water collecting reservoirs for important domestic water supply and key industrial and agricultural production. In the period of high forest fire hazard, cloud seeding will be carried out to prevent forest fire.