Important heavy rain events in China from April to October in 2014

Based on daily precipitation data and operational synoptic charts, important heavy rain events in China occurred from April to October in 2014 were selected by comparing them to the 30-year mean precipitation during 1981-2010. A survey of the synoptic condition,rainfall duration, rainfall area and accumulative amount of precipitation of these events is presented. The results indicate that there were 194 heavy rain days and 32 important heavy rain events during the study period.The main flood season in China persists from May to September.During this period, rainstorms occur almost every day. So, important heavy rain events are mainly concentrated in the main flood season. In 2014, there were five typhoons made landfall in China, which is smaller in number but bigger in strength than historical annual averages.No.1409 super typhoon "Rammasun" caused the largest daily precipitation (578mm) in Hainan Changjiang during 2014.In 2014, the latespring to early-summer flood rain in south China started early with more precipitation. The number of heavy rain days and heavy rain events during May were both higher than the average value of the past six years.The precipitation in southeastern Guangdong was over twice historical averages value. Frequent heavy rains caused severe floods, such as the strongest storm since 2008 was suffered in Shenzhen.During September 8-18, 2014, continuous and extreme precipitation events occurred over more than one hundred stations in northeastern Sichuan Basin, central and southern Shaanxi, Henan.