Influence of the strongest central Pacific El Niño–Southern Oscillation events on the precipitation in eastern China

The impact of the strongest central Pacific (CP) El Niño event 2009/2010 and CP La Niña event 1998/1999 from 1979 to 2010 on the precipitation in eastern China has been analysed. During the 2009/2010 CP El Niño event, it is rainy in northern China during maturing winter and decaying spring, but dry during decaying summer. The rainfall centre is located in south China during maturing period and gradually moves northwards, remaining over the Yellow‐Huai River valley during decaying summer. When the 1998/1999 CP La Niña event occurs, northern China is in a state of drought throughout. In south China, dry periods gradually evolve into rainy ones from maturing winter to decaying summer. The two strongest events also have notable impact…