China on June 12 warned residents in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in the northwest of the country and neighboring areas to prepare to cope with the risk of "extreme floods" this summer.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), Taklamakan desert - the largest desert in China - recorded the first flood of the year in early June. Images broadcast on television showed floodwaters overflowing the inherently barren sand dunes of this area.
Although similar floods have been recorded in the Taklamakan desert since 2021, this phenomenon usually occurs in August - the time when temperatures peak in the year.
However, this year the heat came significantly earlier. According to Reuters Climate Monitor, on June 12, the temperature in Xinjiang was 7.3 degrees Celsius higher than the average of the same period, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius.
Western and southern Xinjiang regions also recorded increased rainfall in recent times. According to CCTV, rainfall in some places is double, even triple the historical average of early June.
The combination of intense heat and heavy rain has triggered floods in the desert. Many areas of glaciers and snow accumulated on the Tianshan and Kunlun mountains have melted, creating large amounts of water pouring into the Tarim River - China's longest inland river.
According to CCTV, the sharp increase in water volume caused the Tarim River to overflow its banks, bringing floodwater into the low-lying areas of the desert.
Although seasonal floods can create short-term oasis, they are difficult to sustain for long. The reason is that the Taklamakan desert is deep in the mainland, surrounded by high mountain ranges, making the humidity very low while the water evaporation rate is very high, making the ground dry quickly.
Although this water source is important for irrigation of local forests, Chinese authorities still warn of serious risks to infrastructure.
Sun Qianqian - an analyst at the China Meteorological Administration, said: "Extreme floods can destroy roads, railways as well as oil and gas projects, creating a very high risk of natural disasters. During the flood season, people and tourists in affected areas need to regularly monitor official warnings, adjust travel plans and put safety first.
