Droughts that have troubled South and East China since November will be alleviated by heavy rains that arrived on Tuesday.
The National Meteorological Center has forecast frequent rain till the end of the month that it says will ease or vanquish droughts in the provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Since October, the areas have experienced 40 to 70 percent less rainfall than normal, depleting reservoirs, the center said.
In January, water supplies for hotels, road-watering vehicles and companies were reduced in Yueqing, Zhejiang, due to the drought, China Central Television reported.
"The coming rain will replenish reservoirs and pools while lowering forest fire risks," Xue Jianjun, the center's deputy head, said on Tuesday. "It will also aid spring farming."