Beijing issues flood alert amid downpours across North China
China's national weather authorities renewed its blue alert for rainstorms on Wednesday morning, warning of a sweeping band of heavy precipitation across 14 provincial-level regions from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. The latest round of rainstorms is part of a broader weather system affecting northern and central China, raising concerns over urban flooding, mountain torrents, and geological disasters.
According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA)'s 10 am bulletin, heavy to torrential rainfall is expected in parts of northern and central Shanxi Province, southern and northeastern Hebei, most of Beijing, Tianjin, northern Shandong, the western Sichuan Basin, southeastern Gansu, northern and southwestern Shaanxi, southern Ningxia, southwestern Yunnan, coastal areas in southern Guangxi, southwestern Hainan Island, central and southern Liaoning, and northwestern Heilongjiang.
Localized torrential rainfall of 100 to 160 millimeters is forecast in eastern Hebei Province, central and eastern Tianjin, and northwestern Sichuan Basin. Some of these areas may experience short-term intense precipitation with hourly rates reaching 20 to 50 millimeters—or even exceeding 70 millimeters—alongside severe convective weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds.
The CMA also issued a yellow alert for severe convective weather, predicting thunderstorms with wind gusts above force 8 and potential hail in northern and southwestern parts of Northeast China, North China, and eastern parts of Northwest China. Northern and central areas of Heilongjiang Province may see wind gusts exceeding force 10, with isolated tornadoes possible.
In Beijing, local meteorological authorities activated a Level IV flood emergency response on Wednesday morning as the capital braced for a fresh wave of heavy rainfall forecast to hit the region from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, according to Beijing Emergency Management Bureau's Sina Weibo post. The city's flood control office instructed relevant departments to implement emergency measures, closely monitor short-term, localized heavy downpours, and ensure the city's effective flood prevention.
The latest rainfall is part of a broader weather system affecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with moderate to heavy rain expected across Beijing, Tianjin, and southern and central Hebei. Some areas may face heavy to torrential rainfall, with cumulative precipitation forecast to reach 100 to 160 millimeters. Experts warned of the risk of mountain floods and geological disasters in the Taihang and Yanshan mountain ranges in North China, while urban areas in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei may face traffic disruptions due to waterlogging, according to the Beijing Daily.
Addressing the broader climate trend, a Chinese expert noted that the current surge in extreme weather across China is not an isolated incident.
"We are seeing a continuation of the global trend, with more frequent and intense weather events driven by record-high greenhouse gas concentrations. This pattern is visible not only in China but also across Europe and North America, where extreme heatwaves are becoming more common," Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
China, he emphasized, has been actively responding to these challenges by enhancing disaster prevention and promoting a green transition. "The country is pushing forward with energy restructuring, expanding renewable energy deployment - which has now surpassed coal-fired capacity - and implementing strong energy-saving and emission-reduction policies," Ma said.
Ma also highlighted the country's efforts to adapt to the current climate reality. "We are improving forecasting and early warning systems, enhancing meteorological observation capabilities, and integrating climate resilience into urban planning and construction. Measures such as sponge city development are critical in managing extreme rainfall and other climate-related events," he added.
China's Ministry of Transport on Wednesday instructed local transport bureaus, along with maritime authorities in Liaoning and Shandong, to intensify monitoring of weather developments. The ministry called for a tiered and categorized emergency response, enhanced inspection and patrol efforts, strict duty enforcement, and proactive information reporting to ensure orderly and effective risk mitigation, according to its official WeChat account.
The CMA urged local governments and relevant departments to prepare for the potential impact of heavy rainfall. Schools and kindergartens were advised to take protective measures to ensure student safety, while drivers were urged to be cautious of road flooding and traffic disruptions. Authorities were also instructed to inspect urban drainage systems, farmland, and fishponds to prepare for possible waterlogging.