Prepared by: Asmita Dahal, GRIT
Abstract
On June 8, 2025, Lishui City of Zhejiang Province, China, experienced a storm causing widespread damage, power cuts, and disturbance to daily life. The storm was characterised by powerful winds and heavy rainfall. Uprooted trees, damaged infrastructure and flash flooding were witnessed in several areas (South China Morning Post, 2025). This report analyses the meteorological causes of the storm, its impact on the environment and socio-economic aspects, and the response efforts made by the authorities. This report also explores the role of climate change in escalating extreme weather events in Zhejiang Province.
Introduction
Zhejiang Province is situated along China’s eastern coast. It is frequently affected by extreme weather events such as typhoons, storms, and flooding (MDPI, 2025). The recent violent storm in Lishui was mostly severe. The wind speeds exceeded 100 km/h, and rainfall was more than 200 mm in some areas (ResearchGate, 2025). Transportation and infrastructure were disrupted by the storm, which led to emergency evacuations. Understanding the causes and consequences of such storms is vital for improving disaster awareness and resilience.
Meteorological Causes of the Storm
A combination of atmospheric disruptions and the regional climate factors contributed to the violent storm in Lishui.
1. Low-Pressure System and Strong Winds
A deep low-pressure system had intensified over the East China Sea before moving inland, paving the way for the storm (MDPI, 2025). The phenomena helped to generate powerful winds that uprooted trees and resulted in structural damage (ResearchGate, 2025).
2. Heavy Rainfall and Flash Flooding
The storm brought heavy rainfall. This led to flash flooding in urban and rural areas (South China Morning Post, 2025). The rapid stagnation of water caused overflow in drainage systems. Hence, causing streets to become inundated and homes to be flooded (MDPI, 2025).
3. Climate Change and Extreme Weather Patterns
As per some scientific studies, climate change has been a major contributor to the increasing frequency and intensity of storms in Zhejiang Province (ResearchGate, 2025). Rises in ocean temperatures have led to stronger storms. Similarly, changes in atmospheric circulation patterns have exaggerated rainfall events (MDPI, 2025).
Impacts of the Storm
The violent storm in Lishui had many socio-economic and environmental impacts.
1. Infrastructure Damage
The storm caused significant damage to roads, bridges, and buildings (South China Morning Post, 2025). According to the reports, more than 500 homes had structural damage. Some were completely destroyed by strong winds (ResearchGate, 2025).
2. Power Outages and Communication Disruptions
High winds led to disruptions in power lines. Thousands of residents were left without electricity (MDPI, 2025). The storm also impacted telecommunication networks. Thus, emergency response efforts were hindered (ResearchGate, 2025).
3. Transportation Disruptions
Flooded roads and fallen debris led to major transportation disruptions (South China Morning Post, 2025). Several highways were temporarily closed, and train services were delayed due to waterlogged tracks (MDPI, 2025).
4. Environmental Consequences
Trees were uprooted, and agricultural fields were damaged. This caused soil erosion (ResearchGate, 2025). Water sources were contaminated because of flash flooding, which raised concerns about public health risks (MDPI, 2025).
Response Measures
Several emergency response measures were implemented by the authorities in Zhejiang Province to reduce the impact of the storm.
1. Evacuations and Emergency Shelters
Many residents were evacuated from areas that were vulnerable to flooding and were relocated to emergency shelters (South China Morning Post, 2025). Food, water, medical assistance and other essentials were provided by the government (ResearchGate, 2025).
2. Infrastructure Repairs
Power was restored, and the repair of damaged roads began immediately after the storm (MDPI, 2025). Emergency crews worked hard to clear debris and bring back essential services (South China Morning Post, 2025).
3. Climate Adaptation Strategies
The frequency of extreme weather events is increasing in Zhejiang Province. To tackle this, the province has been investing in climate adaptation measures, like improving drainage systems and building flood-resistant infrastructure (ResearchGate, 2025).
Conclusion
The growing threat of extreme weather events in China is highlighted by the violent storm in Lishui, Zhejiang Province. Immediate response measures helped reduce and control the disaster’s impact. However, long-term strategies are needed to improve resilience against future storms (MDPI, 2025). Climate change has been a key player in intensifying storms. This necessitates proactive adaptation efforts (ResearchGate, 2025).
References
- South China Morning Post. (2025). Accidents, extreme weather, and disasters in China. Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/topics/china-accidents-weather-disasters
- MDPI. (2025). The impact of coastline and bathymetry changes on storm tides in Zhejiang coasts. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/11/9/1832
- ResearchGate. (2025). The impact of different historical typhoon tracks on storm surge: A case study of Zhejiang, China. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mei-Du-6/publication/339275730_The_impact_of_different_historical_typhoon_tracks_on_storm_surge_A_case_study_of_Zhejiang_China/links/5e51e49292851c7f7f4fd27f/The-impact-of-different-historical-typhoon-tracks-on-storm-surge-A-case-study-of-Zhejiang-China.pdf