Characteristics of Extratropical Cyclones and Associated Precipitation Across the Huang‐Huai River Basin, East China

ABSTRACT The Huang‐Huai River Basin (HHRB) in East China is highly susceptible to frequent floods and droughts, making it one of the most disaster‐prone regions in China. Extratropical cyclones (ETCs) are the primary weather systems generating precipitation over the HHRB. This study investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics and precipitation patterns of ETCs affecting the HHRB, based on a long‐term dataset (1979–2022) derived from ERA5 reanalysis. On average, 33.2 ETCs traverse the HHRB annually, exhibiting a statistically insignificant increasing trend over the study period. Most ETC activity occurs during summer months and nighttime hours. ETCs contribute to approximately 60% of the HHRB's total precipitation, with their contribution increasing for more intense precipitation events. Based on source regions and tracks, the ETCs are classified into five distinct types: locally generated systems and those originating from northwestern, northeastern, southwestern, and southern China. Locally generated ETCs produce the largest total precipitation, whereas those originating from southwestern China trigger the most intense rainfall events. ETC‐induced precipitation plays a crucial role in driving summer floods and droughts over the HHRB. Consequently, a deeper understanding of the characteristics, formation mechanisms, and precipitation‐generating processes of these systems is essential for effective disaster prevention and mitigation strategies.