Changes in Tropical Cyclone Disasters Over China During 2001–2020.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) constitute one of the major types of meteorological disasters in China, causing extensive damage. Based on the latest quality‐controlled provincial‐level TC disaster losses data over China from 2001 to 2020, the spatiotemporal variation in TC disaster and its link with TC activity in the form of prevailing track, precipitation, and intensity were investigated. Results showed that the areas impacted by TCs expanded significantly in the past decade (2011–2020) compared with the previous decade (2001–2010) throughout China, while the direct economic losses resulting from TCs did not increase significantly. Regionally, TC disaster losses increased in Northeast China but decreased in Fujian province. Causal analysis indicated that the increased influential TC (ITC) frequency and TC precipitation together led to the increase in damage for northern China. Also, more westward ITCs resulted in the increase in TC disasters for southwestern China. For southeastern China, the reduction in TC disasters was related to the northward shift in the northwestward ITC track. Although TC disasters increase with exposure, they are heavily influenced by TC track, precipitation, and intensity. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to TC prediction and early warning in northern China, especially Northeast China, where TC disasters are growing but there is greater vulnerability and insufficient capacity for TC prevention and mitigation. Plain Language Summary: China is one of the most frequently affected countries by tropical cyclones (TCs) in the world, suffering huge losses in term of human life and property. The average number of influential TCs varies little from year to year, but TC disasters vary broadly. These TC disasters involve not only the features of TCs themselves, such as precipitation, winds, and storm surges, but also socioeconomic development, the capacity of disaster prevention and preparedness. Utilizing the latest data on TC disasters, this study's results reveal that TC disasters have been aggravated in low‐impact areas, such as Northeast China. Understanding these changes in the characteristics of TC disasters is essential for TC disaster mitigation and climate change adaptation. Key Points: Tropical cyclone (TC) impacted areas expanded significantly in the past decade (2011–2020) compared with the previous decade (2001–2010) throughout ChinaTC disasters increased in Northeast China, where there is greater vulnerability and insufficient capacity for TC prevention and mitigationTC disasters are heavily influenced by TC track, precipitation, and intensity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]