Asia Update #45: Nanmadol brings short-term relief to southeast China

The remnants of Typhoon Nanmodol have slightly reduced the rainfall deficit in southern China. Meanwhile south Asia continues to rebound, with areas of significant rainfall deficits restricted to greater Delhi, and northeast India. Poor rainfall in parts of southeast Asia is a growing problem as moisture has not been moving onshore from the South China Sea.

Nanmadol soaks Taiwan, heading for China

Asia Update #44: Drought relief on the way for southern China

Typhoon Nanmodal, now weakened, may provide some drought relief for coastal sections of southern China. Taiwan and the Philippines, however have taken the brunt of the storm. South and southeast Asia continue to see better rainfall totals and better rainfall distribution. Seasonably dry weather continues in the Middle East.

Typhoon Nanmadol closes in on Taiwan

Typhoon Nanmadol pounds the Philippines, heading for Taiwan

Typhoon Nanmadol to clip Luzon, head for Taiwan

Asia Update #40: Nock-Ten soaks southeast Asia

Nock-Ten ran up the east side of the Philippines, before running over Luzon, clipping China, and finally hitting Vietnam and Laos, before dissipating. Meanwhile, another storm, Muifa, is heading northward in the Pacific and may pose a threat to China, the Koreas and Japan later this week. Season-long rainfall remains near normal across most of India. In the Middle East, seasonal dryness continues.

Nock-Ten heading for Hainan, northern Vietnam

Nock-Ten forms, heading for Luzon and southern China

Asia Update #37: Indian Monsoon Flips. Again

So in an effort to keep me (and all of south Asia) on our toes, the monsoon picked up again across southern India, while slacking off from Nepal to northeastern India, including easing across Bangladesh. That same dryness stretches eastward into southern China, and southward across most of southeast Asia. Looking for an area with too much rain? South Korea has had widespread pockets of flooding over the last week as it has been the target of tropical moisture moving northward. Seasonal dryness continues in the Middle East.

Meari forms east of the Philippines, aiming for Korea

Asia Update #34: Major Flooding in Drought Ravaged China

Even though long term moisture deficits remain, catastrophic flooding has occurred across a wide swath of southern China, including along the Yangtze River. In South Asia, the front range of the Himalayas have reported some rain. However, much of northeastern and eastern India along with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma remain parched. Precipitation has also been suppressed in southeast Asia. Recently rains have arrived in parts of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Weak Sarika to Hit China, Hurricane Adrian to Stay at Sea

Asia Update #31: Monsoon Better in Some parts of South Asia

Precipitation has improved somewhat in South Asia and China, but moisture conditions are far from ideal, and northeast India and adjacent areas of China and Burma have had no significant relief. The Philippines had a close encounter with Super Typhoon Songda. In the Middle East, seasonal dryness continues amid ongoing civil unrest.

Songda now moving past Luzon, Storm Track Shifts East

Songda to miss Philippines, China and Taiwan

Asia Update #29: Rains continue to Slam China, back off in India

Rains continued to hammer drought hit southern China this week. Meanwhile in India, after what looked like a start to the rains in the northeast, ended up just being a preseason (heavy) shower. Isolated heavy rains hit southeast Asia, although nothing out of the ordinary is occurring there. Syria has entered the dry season as protests continue.

Asia Update #28: Rains return to China, India and Bangledesh

Substantial improvement in Bangladesh, nearby parts of India, along with southern, drought ravaged, China. Heavy rain pounded the central Philippines, as dry weather settled into Sumatra and Borneo. Meanwhile the Middle East, including Syria, has returned to seasonably dry weather.

Asia Update #24: Slow Start to the Indian Monsoon

There has been a slightly slow start to the Indian monsoon, although it is too early to tell if this will have a significant impact on the season. Southern China remains locked into a long term drought, as excessive rainfall continues to pound southeast Asia.

Asia Update #22: Heavy rain across ASEAN

Heavy rain continues to pound almost all of the countries in southeast Asia. Rainfall is expected to continue in the northeastern corner of South Asia. Seasonable conditions in the Middle East and Central Asia, as drought continues unabated in China.