Spatiotemporal evolution of tropical cyclone precipitation in China from 1971 to 2020

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are important precipitation systems in China. Although extreme precipitation due to TCs can cause huge economic losses and human casualties, it recharges water sources and alleviates water crisis. To better assess the impact of TCs on China, the TC-affected areas were divided into eight regions and TC-induced precipitation was separated from total precipitation (1971–2020). The spatiotemporal characteristics of TC precipitation amount (TCPA), TC precipitation frequency (TCPF), and TC precipitation intensity were obtained using time-series analysis and spatial interpolation. TCs affect the coastal areas as well as inland parts of central and western China. The annual average TCPA was less than 10 mm/annum in North China, Northwest China, and Southwest China, whereas it exceeded 100 mm/annum in South China (SC) and southern part of East China (SPEC). During 1991–2020, the TCPA in northern part of East China and SPEC exhibited an upward trend, reaching 16.41 and 13.78 mm/per decade, respectively, while it demonstrated a downward trend in SC, reaching − 13.98 mm/per decade. TCPF changed in the same direction as that of TCPA. TCPA and TCPF were primarily concentrated in July–September and peaked in August. TCPA and TCPF and their contributions to total precipitation decreased from the southeast coast to the northwest inland. The maximum annual average TCPA and TCPF were 575.40 mm/annum and 19 days, respectively, in Hainan. Additionally, the contributions of TC to extreme precipitation far exceeded that to total precipitation. Our results provide a reference for water resource management and early warnings of water and drought disasters in China.