Scientists warn that China's ability to cope with catastrophic storms will be tested in 2026.

Scientists warn that extreme weather conditions will only become more common this year.

Weather systems are expected to bring severe weather conditions that will test the resilience of both the densely populated urban areas and rural communities.

The National Climate Center of China expects that up to six typhoons will form in the South China Sea and the Northwest Pacific in July. This is more than the normal 3.8. Three of these storms could land, which is more than the average of 1.8. It said that the intensity of cyclones would also be higher.

Scientists claim climate change is exposing the second largest economy in the world to more destructive weather events. This year, the El Nino pattern that could fuel stronger typhoons (as hurricanes are called in Asia-Pacific) and increase temperatures, has been a cause for concern.

China is preparing for Super Typhoon Bavi, the second tropical storm to hit in one week. Bavi, which measures more than 1,000 km in diameter and has winds exceeding 290 kph (182 mph), briefly touched down on the U.S. Island of Rota at the Western Pacific. Last week, the typhoon Maysak hit China's southernmost province Hainan. It then swept quickly into the Chinese region Guangxi where it caused the most damage. Maysak's remnants also caused at least two tornadoes to form in central China.

Benjamin Horton is the dean of City University of Hong Kong's School of Energy and Environment. He said, "The problem of these events is they just keep increasing."

Horton warned that the magnitude of these events was increasing, and that there wasn't time to recover or become resilient. He expects to see more frequent and intense cyclones in this year, which will drop unprecedented amounts rainfall, leading to floods, landslides and crop damage, as well as a loss of life.

He said, "This will just repeat itself over and over again."

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Hengzhou, which is at the epicenter of the Guangxi flooding, was hit with heavy floodwaters after the dams of local reservoirs failed. Officials have confirmed that at least six people are dead in Guangxi and 375,000 other people are affected. Death toll expected to increase.

A call for assistance posted on Chinese social networks on Tuesday stated that "at least 1,000 people are trapped in the mountains, and it is dark everywhere. We need urgent rescue." The post has not been independently verified.

CCTV reported that after the failure of an intermediate-sized reservoir, on Monday, large quantities of silt and mud were carried by floodwaters into downstream villages and farms.

CTV reported that in some homes, floodwaters had reached the second-floor, trapping people on roofs while violent torrents of water rushed all around them.

Hengzhou is a largely rural city with more than one million residents. It has six reservoirs of medium size and over 200 smaller ones.

The canal project, which is expected to be completed in September, will cost 70 billion yuan (10.3 billion dollars).

Hui Su is the chair professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

El Nino shifts typhoons westward towards China's coastline, increasing risks. Climate change also makes storms more destructive and wetter.

The United Nations weather agency increased its forecast last week?for a rapid emergence of an El Nino in the months to come. El Nino, defined by the World Meteorological Organization, is a periodic increase in sea surface temperature over the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. This could potentially raise global temperatures, and lead to extreme weather.

(source: Reuters)