May 15 (Xinhua) — "Henan folks, are you all awake?" From the evening of the 14th to the early hours of the 15th, strong winds swept across many parts of Henan, jolting many people awake from their sleep. On the morning of the 15th, the Henan Provincial Meteorological Bureau held a press conference to explain the causes of the windy weather.

Photo shows meteorological staff in Henan conducting weather monitoring. Photo by Fan Xiaoheng

The briefing stated that from 20:00 on the 14th to 8:00 on the 15th, a large-scale strong wind event occurred north of the Huai River in Henan Province, with most areas experiencing Level 8 to 10 gales, and localized Level 12 to 13 winds in northwestern Xinxiang, western Zhengzhou, and northern Xuchang. Anyang, Hebi, and Puyang were locally accompanied by short-term heavy precipitation.

Xu Wenming, chief forecaster of the Henan Provincial Meteorological Observatory, analyzed that the strong winds had two causes: on the one hand, temperatures were high in the earlier period, creating strong unstable energy. On the 14th, the maximum temperature across Henan was generally 32°C to 35°C. On the other hand, an upper-level cold trough guided strong cold air southward, and the surface cold front rapidly pressed southward, generating strong winds and triggering convection in Henan. The combination of cold-air gales and strong convective gales resulted in the strong wind force.

In response to this weather process, the Henan Provincial Meteorological Bureau issued a "Weather Report" on the 13th, issued a blue gale warning at 16:00 on the 14th, and activated a Level IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters (gales). At 2:00 on the 15th, the Henan Provincial Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow warning for severe convection.

According to forecasts by the Henan Provincial Meteorological Observatory, the province will see mainly sunny to cloudy weather over the coming week, with temperatures rising rapidly. From the 17th to the 19th, most of the province will experience high temperatures above 35°C, and wheat-growing areas north of the Huai River that lack soil moisture face the risk of dry hot winds.

The Henan meteorological authorities also reminded the public that summer is a peak period for severe convection, which is characterized by sudden onset, localized scope, and strong destructive potential, and thus requires heightened precautions. In response to windy weather, residents should close doors and windows and reinforce temporary structures. They should minimize going outdoors, avoid lingering under billboards and temporary structures, stop outdoor work in open areas, and move indoors or to wind-sheltered locations.

In addition, on May 15, Henan officially entered its flood season. According to the official website of the Henan Provincial Department of Water Resources, the province's climate this year is generally unfavorable, and during the flood season, precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Han River, the main stream of the Huai River, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, and the Zhangwei River in the Hai River basin is expected to be 20% to 50% above normal, making the flood control situation severe.