Climate Characteristics for 2008
According to the calculations of the Huangdi Neijing, in 2008 the ruling-Heaven qi is shaoyin sovereign-fire and the qi-at-the-spring is yangming dry-metal. The year falls under "fire in excess," so the year as a whole runs dry-hot, dry-cold, and abrupt cold-and-hot, with rainfall concentrated within two months. In particular:
From late January to mid-March (Great Cold to before Spring Equinox), the guest qi is taiyang cold-water; the weather will be wind-cold-dominated, and temperatures slow to rise.
From late March to mid-May (Spring Equinox to before Grain Full), the guest qi is jueyin wind-wood; mostly clear days, with wind and sand, alternating cold and warm.
From late May to mid-July (Grain Full to before Great Heat), three fires stack — temperatures will spike, possibly earlier in the date than in past years; with fire-heat in excess, cold-qi may rebound.
From late July to mid-September (Great Heat to before Autumn Equinox), both host and guest qi are taiyin damp-earth; the weather will be unusually stifling and humid, with heavy rains arriving in their season; the whole year's rainfall will be concentrated in these two months.
From late September to mid-November (Autumn Equinox to before Light Snow), the weather will be dry-hot; from late November to mid-January 2009 (Light Snow to before Great Cold), the weather will be dry-cold. Dryness will run heavy through all four of these months.
In light of these characteristics, this year one should note:
1. Spring and autumn dry, height-of-summer flooded — autumn grain may bring a good harvest while summer grain may be reduced; in particular, summer harvest should begin early.
2. With rain concentrated in two months, cities should both guard against inundation and do all they can to enlarge rainy-season water storage, against autumn-winter drought.
3. The Olympics fall in rainy season — extremely stifling. Although short cool-clear spells may interrupt, heat-stroke prevention should be the top priority. Heavy rain may also strike without warning, affecting traffic and venue activities.
4. Spring will run wind-hot, autumn-winter excessively dry — fire prevention deserves special attention. Once a fire starts, natural rain cannot be relied on to put it out.
5. For yangsheng and health care: in spring and early summer, cold and heat alternate — pay close attention to the weather and add or shed layers. Summer will be stifling — keep plenty of heat-relieving medicines on hand and eat plenty of cooling foods. Autumn-winter will be unusually dry — guard against lung injury; lung-moistening foods should not be left off the table for these three or four months.