Chongqing - Typhoon Danas brought heavy rainfall to Chongqing last week, but the city’s advanced digital weather system helped manage the impact, highlighting tech-driven resilience in extreme weather.

Typhoon Danas was the fourth named storm of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season. It originated from a rapidly consolidating convective disturbance about 550 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong on July 4.

Chongqing is located deep in the inland region of western China and is generally less affected by typhoons. Experts from the National Meteorological Center explained that the westward extension of the subtropical high-pressure system, along with slow-moving upper-level troughs and persistent easterly moisture transport from the typhoon's periphery, created a blocking pattern, which led to indirect but intense rainfall across the region.

From July 7 to 10, Chongqing experienced a major rainfall event, with the city's mountainous and hilly terrain amplifying flooding risks. The Chongqing Meteorological Observatory (CMO) reports show that 12 rainfall stations across districts such as Dadukou, Jiulongpo, and Banan recorded more than 250 mm of rainfall. The highest rainfall, 338 mm, was recorded in Yangjiaping, Jiulongpo District.

According to Chinese outlet Cover News, heavy rain from Typhoon Danas flooded a used car dealership on Lijiatuo Street in Chongqing’s Banan District, damaging nearly 90 vehicles. The owner reported losses nearing 6 million yuan (about $830,000).

Chongqing's summer heat returned on July 12 as the typhoon's impact nearly subsided, said the CMO.

Satellite image of Typhoon Danas. (Photo/CycloneMC)

The track of Typhoon Danas. (Photo/CycloneMC)

During the heavy rain, the CMO used an AI-powered meteorological system called Si Tian, which provides precise forecasts and rapid warnings.

The system builds on a detection network by delivering seamless forecasts updated every hour using 15-minute data assimilation cycles. It enables early warnings for severe convective weather 63 minutes ahead of time and offers high-resolution forecasting of heavy rainfall at 5-minute intervals and within 500-meter grids over two hours.

"When extreme weather is forecast, we can instantly access mobile numbers from telecom base stations in the affected areas," said Hao Qiu, director of the Chongqing Warning Information Release Center. "This enables us to deliver rapid, targeted alerts to the public." He explained that at 2:42 a.m. on July 9, emergency alerts were delivered to 600,000 Chongqing residents in less than two minutes.

Parents carry their child while running through heavy rain in Chongqing. (Photo/Yang Xinyu)

Beyond disaster warnings, the Si Tian system also contributes to agricultural production and tourism development. According to the Chongqing Fengjie Navel Orange Research Institute, the system collects first-hand meteorological data for local governments. After analysis, it generates specific agricultural guidance measures delivered to farmers via text messages and other channels.

For mountainous scenic areas around Chongqing, the Si Tian system can forecast sea of clouds weather conditions and negative oxygen ion levels in advance. This tourism guidance information is then provided to visitors through the "Chongqing Weather" mobile app.