China is entering its major flooding season. The south of the country is bracing for another round of storms, and a tropical cyclone near the Philippines is on its way.

The Ministry of Water Resources has laid out this year's weather conditions.

Rainstorms following lengthy drought have brought flash floods in China's southern provinces.

Since the beginning of June, water levels of over 90 rivers in 10 provinces had once exceeded the alert level. Floods swept Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, and set records in Hubei and Jiangxi.

Storms have been severe.

In Linxiang County in Hunan Province, over 2 meters of rain fell within 6 hours, the heaviest in 300 years, causing landslides in nearby provinces.

The good news is that for the time being, water levels in major southern rivers have remained normal.

Apart from some branches of the Yangtze and Minjiang rivers, water levels in major rivers have remained below alert level. The country's seven major waters systems are running calm.

Continuing rain has eased drought conditions to some extent.

But some areas, such as northwestern Hubei province, central and north Anhui, north Jiangsu, and parts of North China still suffer. Drought continues to affect over 48,000 square kilometers of arable land, and over 600,000 people have difficulty accessing drinking water.

The impending rainy season, and typhoon activity have Southeast China bracing for floods.

Rainfall there has been 20 percent less than in previous years. But officials are warning flood prevention departments that it's likely to become stronger in the coming days.

vivi笔记:

major flooding season:主汛期
tropical cyclone:热带气旋
The Ministry of Water Resources:水利部
laid out:安排,采取措施
flash floods:山洪
for the time being:眼下,暂时
arable land:耕地
rainy season:雨季
typhoon activity:台风

口译备考之看英语视频练复述系列>>