Hechi, Guangxi Province & Linxia, Gansu Province, China – Southern and northwestern regions of China have been battered by severe hailstorms in recent days, marking some of the most intense weather of their kind in a decade. The extreme weather events have resulted in substantial damage to property, infrastructure, agriculture, and tragically, the loss of animal life.

On May 19th, Hechi City in the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region experienced an hour-long deluge of torrential rain accompanied by hailstones exceeding five centimeters in diameter – comparable in size to chicken eggs. State broadcaster CCTV reported widespread disruption across the city, with eyewitness accounts and citizen-captured video footage illustrating the ferocity of the storm.

Residents described a sudden onset of violent winds that darkened the sky, followed by a barrage of hail that struck with the force of bullets. Videos depicted individuals struggling against powerful gusts to secure temporary structures, while others showed astonishment at the size of the hailstones littering the ground. Tragically, one farming family discovered their pet dog deceased with injuries consistent with the severe impact of the hail.

The hailstorm wreaked havoc on infrastructure, causing damage to the roofs of numerous buildings and felling trees. Street vendors faced perilous conditions as their carts were swept away by the combined force of wind and hail. Roads were temporarily covered in a thick layer of ice, hindering transportation.

Local meteorological authorities issued an 'orange alert' for hail, the second-highest level in China's warning system, urging residents to seek immediate shelter and secure livestock. However, the intensity and suddenness of the storm overwhelmed preventative measures. This event marks the most significant hail damage experienced in Guangxi Province since 2015.

The extreme weather system then moved northwest, striking Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province on May 20th. For a continuous hour, the region was pummeled by hail, accumulating to a depth of ten centimeters in some areas.

The agricultural sector in Linxia Prefecture suffered considerable losses. Farmers reported extensive damage to crops, including corn seedlings whose protective plastic coverings were shredded by the relentless hail. CCTV indicated that over a thousand farming households in the region have been affected, raising concerns about potential impacts on local food production and livelihoods.

Meteorological experts attribute these extreme weather events to the increasingly volatile interaction between cold and warm air masses. They warn that global warming is exacerbating atmospheric energy, leading to a greater frequency and intensity of such phenomena. Notably, China experienced a 35% increase in extreme weather events in 2023 compared to the average, with record-breaking hailstone diameters observed.

These recent hailstorms serve as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by climate change and the increasing vulnerability of communities to severe weather. Authorities are likely to assess the full extent of the damage and implement measures to support affected residents and mitigate future risks associated with such extreme events.