Major heavy rain events in China from April to October in 2015

Based on daily precipitation data and operational synoptic charts, major heavy rain events occurred in China from April to October in 2015 were selected by comparing their precipitation with the 30-year mean value from 1981 to 2010. And a survey of the synoptic condition, rainfall duration, rainfall area and accumulative amount of precipitation of these events is presented. Results indicate that there were 192 heavy rain days, 41 major heavy rain events, and 6 typhoon landfalls in China during the same period. In 2015, the maximum daily precipitation was 387.9 mm, which occurred in Lushan, Jiangxi and caused by No.1513 typhoon Soudelor. No.1522 typhoon Mujigae was the strongest typhoon that made landfall in Guangdong and entered into Guangxi on October in China, which broke the historical record. In South China, heavy rain events happened frequently, with the monthly mean precipitation in May being the highest during the same period of the past 40 years, which caused severe floods and geological disasters, such as landslides etc., in some areas. In this year, of all heavy rain events, the maximum accumulative precipitation was 983.4 mm, which appeared at Dongxing, Guangxi from July 25 to 30.