Abstract: To improve the analysis and forecast ability of extreme short-duration heavy rain (ESDHR; hourly precipitation ≥50 mm h⁻¹) against the background of the Northeast China cold vortex (NCCV), it is necessary to study the distribution and environmental characteristics of ESDHR against this backdrop. Based on 8-year hourly rainfall observations from 18777 automatic weather stations and ERA5 reanalysis data, 1903 ESDHR events were identified. They were grouped into four quadrants according to their positions relative to the NCCV center (CVC). The observation characteristics and environmental conditions of ESDHR in different NCCV quadrants were analyzed in this study. The results showed that the ESDHR frequencies decrease in the following order of quadrants: southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest. These events are most concentrated in the eastern plains of the Greater Khingan, Yanshan, and Taihang mountain ranges. Liaoning Province experiences the highest frequency of ESDHR. This province experiences not only the highest frequency of ESDHR occurrence related to NCCV but also the highest percentage of ESDHR related to NCCV. Over the entire region, ESDHR occurs most frequently in August. The diurnal variation of ESDHR in all quadrants is characterized by a peak at night. The ESDHR related to NCCV occurs in an environment with strong static instability, low-level convergence and uplift, and a moderate intensity 0–6 km wind vector difference. All ESDHR samples were analyzed by establishing a new coordinate system with CVC as the origin and the NCCV radius (r_CV) as the unit distance. The results showed that up to 53.4% of ESDHR events occurred in the area approximately 1.7–2.2 r_CV away from the CVC and at an angle of 120°–210°. This region corresponds to the forward-tilted trough, the strong convergence zone formed by the shear line at the bottom of the NCCV. This region has conditions conducive to ESDHR events, such as abundant water vapor and a moderate 0–6 km wind vector difference. The prerequisites for ESDHR in the southwest quadrant are strong static instability and strong dry air in the middle layer, and those for ESDHR in the northeast quadrant are stronger low-level convergence and uplift. The insights gained from this study on the ESDHR in different quadrants of NCCV can serve as valuable references for enhancing the forecasting accuracy of these intense precipitation events.