Torrential rains inundated 12 provinces in central and southern China in early June 2011, according to Xinhua News. By June 8, floods had affected an estimated 4.81 million people. On June 12, 2011, Voice of America reported that the death toll in China had risen to 94, and at least 78 people were missing.
This image shows estimated rainfall amounts from June 3 to 9 over southern China. The lowest rainfall amounts (less than 75 millimeters, or 3 inches) appear in pale green, and the heaviest amounts (more than 450 millimeters, or 18 inches) appear in dark blue. Relatively heavy rain extends into Vietnam and Laos.
On June 12, Xinhua News reported that more heavy rain was forecast for the next day. Voice of America reported that severe weather had already destroyed nearly 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of crops.
This image is based on data from the Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis produced at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which estimates rainfall by combining measurements from many satellites and calibrating them using rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite.
References & Resources
- Voice of America. (2011, June 12). Death toll from China floods rises to 94. Accessed June 13, 2011.
- Xinhua. (2011, June 8). China floods kill 52 people, more rain forecast in south. Accessed June 13, 2011.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen, using near-real-time data provided courtesy of TRMM Science Data and Information System at Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Michon Scott.
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