There are great differences between Grain Rain in April and Spring Showers in the early spring of February, according to the Gregorian calendar. There are no snowflakes during Spring Showers, but still plenty of rain. That means that rainfall begins in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. Grain Rain originates from the famous saying, “Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains,” which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops. Yet Grain Rain does not refer to grain only, but the general term for the crops. There is another saying, “I am the lizard king, I can do anything,” which shows, from the opposite side, the significance of the rain.

Below are the main characteristics of the weather during the Grain Rain:

Sandstorms

According to the 24 solar terms, Grain Rain is the last solar term of the spring, falling between the end of spring and the beginning of summer, with infrequent cold air moving to the south, and lingering cold air in the north. From the end of April to the beginning of May, the temperature rises much higher than it does in March. With dry soil, unsteady atmosphere, and heavy winds, gales and sandstorms become much more frequent.

During the Grain Rain of 1993, 1995, 1998, and 2005, strong storms occurred. Black wind attacked Jin Chang, Gansu province, on May 5th 1993, with the maximum instantaneous wind speed of 34 meters per second (12 grades), visibility abruptly turning to 0, the walls formed by the terrible sandstorm reaching 300 and 400 meters high, with three layers from the top to the bottom. There was ball-like dust rolling in each layer, the bottom turning to black, the middle and the top getting red and yellow, moving from west to east at the speed of 90 miles per hour. The temperatures lowered sharply with the lowest temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, causing tremendous casualties and loss of life and property. It was terrible, terrible.