The timing of the South Asian High over the Indochina Peninsula affects the summer monsoon and rainfall in eastern-central China. Early establishment of the South Asian High leads to an earlier onset of the summer monsoon and different atmospheric patterns compared to late establishment years. This can result in out-of-phase rainfall distribution in eastern-central China, with weak South Asian High and strong ascending motion leading to drought in some areas and strong South Asian High and weak ascending motion leading to floods in others. The timing of the South Asian High can predict the flood-drought pattern in eastern-central China in summer.