BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Extensive rainfall continued to hit north China on Monday, driving temperatures sharply lower from record high levels, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.
Starting Sunday, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusts of wind began to hit parts of north China. Temperatures fell sharply afterwards, with a daytime high of 21 degrees Celsius in Beijing.
The rain has brought much needed relief to the drought-stricken regions of north China. Since mid-April, over 100,000 square kilometers of farmland had been in the grip of drought.
The NMC forecast strong wind to sweep parts of Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, parts of northern and northeastern China, as well as the Huanghuai region on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy rainfall will also hit south China, with parts of the region expecting downpours and thunderstorms.
