Farmers dig a ditch to channel water at Chengguan Township in Ruyang County of Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 4, 2009. The city had received a reduced effective rainfall since October 2008, almost 80 percent less than in the same period of previous years. The local government has allocated some 25 million yuan (US$3.65 million) for drought relief and crops protection. [Gao Shanyue/Xinhua]

In Henan, it's been 104 days since it rained. About 500,000 mu of wheat have died, and 41 million mu more are struggling to survive.

Nationwide, lack of rain has affected more than 140 million mu or 43 percent of the wheat crop. About 3.7 million people and 1.85 million livestock are also short of water, the Agriculture Ministry said.

No near-term relief

Zong Zhiping, chief forecaster of the National Meteorological Center, said dry air and frequent cold fronts were combining to limit rain.

"Humidity from the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean is the major rain source for China, but abnormal atmospheric circulation last winter cut off that source of water," Zong said.

"Moreover, it's hard for rain to form in cold weather," Zong added.

In southern Shandong, only 1 mm of rain has fallen so far this winter, 90 percent less than in previous winters.

The China Meteorological Administration said Thursday that northern China would get light or moderate precipitation starting Saturday, but the severe drought in north China was not likely to ease.

The administration also warned that drought would spread to the country's eastern regions and the Yellow and Huai river regions in March.