From Wednesday to Friday, heavy to torrential rains are forecast in Beijing and neighboring Hebei Province, with heavy downpours and short-term intense rainfall expected in some regions. Beijing is expected to undergo a 30-hour precipitation process starting Wednesday afternoon and lasting until Thursday evening.
The Mentougou District of Beijing experiences gloomy and hot weather preceding heavy rainfall on July 24, 2024. /CFP
On Wednesday, China's National Meteorological Center renewed an orange alert for rainstorms from Wednesday to Thursday in Beijing and Hebei. China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters also activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding on Wednesday, the least severe of a four-tier warning system, for Beijing and Hebei.
The headquarters warned that the heavy rainfall may trigger secondary disasters such as flash floods, mudslides, and landslides in mountainous and hilly areas, as well as waterlogging in low-lying locations.
In response to the forecast rainfall, the Beijing Water Authority and the Beijing Meteorological Service jointly issued a yellow alert for mountain torrents. The public is advised to avoid flood channels and suspend mountain- and water-related outdoor activities.
Additionally, the two bureaus jointly issued a blue alert for urban waterlogging. The public is advised to avoid low-lying areas and choose reliable traffic routes.
The municipal emergency management bureau has advised enterprises and public institutions to adopt flexible working hours or staggered commutes during the rainfall. Schools may suspend classes as necessary, halt in-person training, and refrain from outdoor teaching activities.
(With input from Xinhua)