Chongqing—One of the cities facing the most serious flood issues in China, Chongqing, is now promoting its flood control systems to other parts of the country.

On May 16, the National Smart City Meteorological Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Conference took place in Chongqing, drawing meteorological departments from nationwide to study the city's pioneering efforts in digital meteorology and flood control.

The landscape of Chongqing. (Photo/Ren Jun)

Wang Chao, an official from the Emergency Disaster Reduction Division of the China Meteorological Administration, highlighted Chongqing's unique geographical challenges. Located in the subtropical monsoon humid zone, the city is known for its abundant rainfall, mountainous terrain, and expansive rural areas. As an important ecological barrier in the Yangtze River basin, Chongqing faces significant flood control pressure. 

In recent years, Chongqing has been at the forefront of integrating meteorological warning systems with disaster forecasting, culminating in the development of advanced flood control technologies, including the Zhi Tian Flood Prevention and Decision-making System in Shapingba District. "This meeting aims to showcase Chongqing's pioneering practices and experiences nationwide," said Wang.

Zhi Tian Flood Prevention and Decision-making System. (Graphic/Chongqing Meteorological Bureau)

Zhi Tian integrates meteorological and hydrological data from the Jialing River basin, allowing for better river and urban flooding predictions. Early warning times have improved, with water risk warnings now issued up to seven days in advance, compared to one day before. Additionally, emergency response times have been reduced from six hours to 30 minutes, helping to minimize casualties and property damage during extreme weather events.

At 16:00 on July 12, 2024, floodwaters from the Jialing River surged through the Shapingba district of Chongqing, inundating the low-lying areas of the Ciqikou ancient town. (Photo/Fan Yuen)

In 2023, the system successfully predicted rising water levels on the Jialing River six days in advance. In July 2024, it accurately forecasted the peak of the flood, allowing the government to evacuate people and materials in advance and effectively avoid significant losses. 

"Infrastructure is also being further improved. The spacing of meteorological monitoring stations has been reduced from 6.2 kilometers to 2.9 kilometers, and radar coverage has increased from 65% to 95.8%," said Yang Zhi, deputy director of the Chongqing Meteorological Bureau.

Yang added that the design of these infrastructures enables the swift dissemination of early warning information. A newly established rapid-release system ensures that alerts reach government officials within a minute, notify emergency response personnel in three to five minutes, and are communicated to the public within five to 10 minutes via multiple channels, including emergency broadcasts and mobile apps.

Chongqing entered its flood season on May 1, which runs through September. Forecasts for this year predict an above-average incidence of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, flooding, severe convective weather, and prolonged heat waves.