Artificial precipitation eases drought in Zhejiang

Torrential rain triggered by artificial precipitation helped reduce temperatures in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, from 39 to 29 degrees Celsius on Wednesday afternoon.

Since Monday, artificial precipitation has been implemented in more than 10 counties and cities to ease drought and reduce pressure on the power supply, according to an official with the provincial artificial precipitation office.

The most successful artificial precipitation operation was recorded in Xianju County on Tuesday with 69 mm of rainfall.

A total of 40 teams are ready to carry out artificial precipitation operations in 248 places in the province when meteorological conditions allow.

A drought is lingering in Zhejiang Province, which received 74 percent less rain than usual in the first 29 days of July and saw temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius in many cities last week.

Most cities in the province recorded temperatures between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius on Wednesday afternoon. The highest was recorded in Xinchang County, which experienced a high of 41.7 degrees Celsius.