Characteristics of flood and drought conditions in 2025 and corresponding prevention and response efforts
YAO Wenguang
Abstract：This paper systematically reviewed the characteristics of flood and drought conditions in China in 2025,the practices of prevention and response efforts,and the existing shortcomings.A retrospective analysis indicates that flood and drought conditions in 2025 have exhibited characteristics such as localized extreme heavy rainfall,relatively severe flooding in northern regions,and significant seasonal and periodic drought patterns.Adhering to the principles of putting people first and prioritizing lives and by establishing a mindset that anticipates worst-case scenarios and extreme situations,water resources authorities have implemented six categories of prevention and response measures rigorously,practically,and meticulously from the earliest stage.These measures include improving the flood and drought disaster prevention and response system,strengthening preparedness and readiness,implementing systematic,scientific,safe,and precise regulation of water projects for flood control,carrying out scientific emergency response,strictly preventing flash flood risks,and implementing precise regulation of water projects for drought relief.As a result,major rivers remain calm,and no reservoir dams collapse nationwide for four consecutive years;no key embankments are breached,and urban and rural water supply is effectively secured.However,under the challenges posed by climate change,shortcomings and weaknesses persist in flood and drought disaster prevention,including insufficient monitoring,forecasting,and early warning capabilities for small watersheds in mountainous areas,heightened flood risks for small and medium-sized reservoirs,and inadequate capabilities for monitoring,forecasting,and early warning of medium-to long-term drought conditions.Adaptive strategies are proposed accordingly,including accelerating the improvement of the flood and drought disaster prevention and response system,developing systematic solutions for flood control,flood utilization,and flood re-creation,and continuously strengthening the foundational work of flood and drought disaster prevention.
Keywords：flood conditiondrought conditionclimate changeextreme weatherreview and assessmentflood and drought disaster prevention and response systemregulation of water projectflash flood disaster
Publication Date：2026-01-12
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-27(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 10-16 )