page_title: Tropical Storm Rumbia
section_title: Effects in China
hierarchical_section_title: Tropical Storm Rumbia / Effects in China
caption_attribution_description: English: Remnants of Tropical Storm Rumbia (21W) over East China (afternoon overpass)
context_page_description: Tropical Storm Rumbia was a rather weak but very destructive tropical cyclone that caused widespread and disastrous flooding in East China in August 2018. The twenty-second officially recognized tropical cyclone of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season, Rumbia developed from an area of low pressure that developed southeast of the Ryukyu Islands on August 13. Favorable environmental conditions supported development of the low into a tropical depression by August 15. At 12:00 UTC that day, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Rumbia, which refers to the Sago Palm. Initially moving northward, the cyclone turned westward in response to a building ridge to its northeast while slowly strengthening, reaching its peak intensity with maximum 10-minute sustained winds of 85 km/h on August 16. At 20:05 UTC that day, the storm made landfall in Shanghai at peak intensity, maintaining its strength as it moved inland due to ample environmental moisture. However, Rumbia began to weaken as it continued further inland, degenerating into a tropical depression on August 17 shortly before becoming extratropical over central China.
context_section_description: In the weeks prior to Rumbia, the successive impacts of tropical storms Ampil and Yagi left the region saturated and unable to effectively absorb rain water. Furthermore, a subtropical ridge spread substantial heat and water vapor across Eastern China. This provided ample energy for the system to persist unusually far inland. Widespread torrential rains affected provinces unaccustomed to significant typhoon impacts: northern Anhui, Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Xuzhou. The floods are considered the worst typhoon-related floods in the country since 2016. Throughout the affected areas, 53 people died in storm-related incidents. More than 32,246 homes were damaged or destroyed and total economic losses reached ¥36.91 billion (US$5.36 billion).
  In Shanghai where the storm made landfall, a minor storm surge of 0.3 to 0.9 m (0.98 to 2.95 ft) impacted the coast. Rainfall peaked at 183 mm (7.2 in) in the Jiading District resulting in some flooding which affected three homes, twelve cars, and ninety-eight roads. Damage to power lines cut power to 40,000 people, primarily in the Chongming District.
  Multiple rivers and lakes in Jiangsu reached flood level due to the heavy rains, particularly Lake Tai, the Qinhuai River, and the Wei River. Rainfall between August 17 and 18 peaked at 332.8 mm (13.10 in) in Heqiao, Yixing. Storm- to typhoon-force winds battered coastal areas; a peak gust of 119 km/h (74 mph) on Gaogong Island in Lianyungang.
  Record-breaking rains drenched much of Anhui Province; accumulations exceeded 50 mm (2.0 in) across 78.5 percent (109,600 km²) of the province with localized areas exceeding 400 mm (16 in). The greatest precipitation fell in Xiaoxian County where 479.4 mm (18.87 in) was observed. All-time daily rainfall records were surpassed in Huaibei (269.2 mm (10.60 in)), Suzhou (232.6 mm (9.16 in)), and Fengyang (200.1 mm (7.88 in)). Similarly, rainfall rates approached historic levels for the region; one-hourly rainfall peaked at 124.5 mm (4.90 in) in Yanglouzhen. Although primarily a rain-event, Rumbia also brought strong winds that reached 119 km/h (74 mph) in Chaohu. Province-wide, 1.2 million people suffered direct effects from the storm with 30,000 people left homeless. Flooding destroyed 1,486 homes, damage 5,844 more, and submerged 268,770 hectares (664,000 acres) of crops. Twelve people died and total economic losses in the province reached ¥1.837 billion (US$267 million). The impacts are considered the worst from a typhoon in the province since Typhoon Haikui in 2012.
  In neighboring Hunan province, approximately 4.9 million people were affected, of whom 9,114 were rendered homeless. Hundreds of homes suffered varying degrees of damage while 85 collapsed. Flooding primarily affected eastern counties near the Anhui–Hunan border.
  Unusually heavy rains persisted as far north as Liaoning Province;up to 288 mm (11.3 in) fell across the Liaodong Peninsula. Hourly accumulations peaked at 50 to 70 mm (2.0 to 2.8 in) and minor street flooding occurred in many areas.
  Two tornadoes touched down in Xuzhou.
caption: The remnants of the storm weakening over Henan on August 18
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