Strong El Nino event could raise extreme weather risks in China, state media says

BEIJING, July 8 (Reuters) - A strong to super-strong eastern Pacific-type El Nino event is expected to form this ‌summer and autumn, raising risks for extreme weather ‌such as flooding and heatwaves across China this year and the next, ​state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing forecasts by the National Climate Centre.

• Sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial central and eastern Pacific have been rising since the beginning of June, ‌with the index in ⁠key regions reaching 1.60 degrees Celsius, up 0.64C from May, Xinhua said, adding that the National ⁠Climate Centre expected further sea temperature rises.

• Under the influence of various climate events including the El Nino, extreme weather such ​as ​heavy rain, flooding, drought, heatwaves ​and typhoons could occur in ‌July and August, the National Climate Centre said.

• When the El Nino reaches mature stage in autumn and winter, southern China could see more precipitation, while temperatures across most of the country are expected to run higher.

• As El Nino ‌tapers off in the spring and ​summer of next year, heavy rainfall ​is expected, raising ​risks for flooding across several river basins including ‌the Yangtze River Basin. Summer ​heatwaves will likely ​be stronger and cover wider areas.

• Increased rainfall could affect major grain-producing regions such as northeast and north ​China, while the ‌northwestern part of the country should prepare for drought ​risks, the report said.

(Reporting by Yukun Zhang and Ryan ​Woo; Editing by Nia Williams)