Latest news with #BeijingMeteorologicalService
The Independent
29-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
At least 30 dead as almost a year's worth of rain lashes Beijing in matter of days
Torrential rains have killed at least 30 people in Beijing and caused widespread damage in the Chinese capital's mountainous northern region. Beijing has received almost a year's rainfall in a matter of days, prompting authorities to evacuate about 80,000 people from their homes. The unrelenting monsoon rains have damaged roads and communication infrastructure and cut off power to 136 villages as of Monday midnight. Deaths have so far been reported from Beijing's mountainous northern districts, with 28 in Miyun and two in Yanqing. Heavy rain started last Wednesday and intensified around Beijing and surrounding provinces on Monday, with the city getting up to 543.4mm rainfall in its northern districts, Xinhua news agency reported. The average annual rainfall in Beijing is around 600mm. The most intense rain occurred on Saturday in the capital hilly Huairou area, which saw 95.3mm of rainfall in one hour. The Beijing Meteorological Service has issued a yellow rainstorm alert for the Chinese capital city on Tuesday, down from the highest level of red on Monday. The downpour is forecast to continue until Tuesday night with hourly precipitation in some areas exceeding 50mm, Global Times reported. The weather department has asked the public to take precautions due to a heightened risk of secondary disasters such as flash floods, mudslides, and landslides in mountainous and hilly areas. The rains have seen over 730 million cubic meters of water flow into the Miyun reservoir, the largest in China's north, as of Tuesday morning, with 120 million cubic meters discharged since Sunday afternoon. Authorities in Beijing are urging residents to keep clear of downstream rivers as water levels are expected to remain high. The government has allocated 200m yuan (£21m) for post-disaster recovery efforts, state media said. The funds will mainly be used to repair damaged transportation, water, medical and other infrastructure and public service facilities in Miyun and Huairou. Footage shared by state media showed helicopters carrying aid supplies taking off from the Miyun Mujiayu airport on Monday. Chinese president Xi Jinping said there had been "heavy casualties and property losses" in Beijing and the provinces of Hebei, Jilin and Shandong, and ordered "all-out" search and rescue efforts. "No effort should be spared to search for and rescue those missing or trapped, to transfer and resettle residents in affected areas, and to reduce casualties to the greatest extent possible," Mr Xi said. Premier Li Qiang also said heavy rain and flooding in Beijing's Miyun district had caused "significant casualties", Xinhua reported. Northern China has witnessed record-breaking rainfall in recent years, exposing densely populated cities, including Beijing, to flood risks. Some climate scientists link the higher rainfall in China's usually arid north to global warming. Last week, two people died and 10 went missing after half a year's worth of rain fell in just five hours in the eastern province of Shandong. Extreme weather has caused over 307 deaths or disappearances across the country in the first half of 2025 and resulted in economic losses exceeding $7.6bn, Reuters reported. Beijing recorded its heaviest rainfall in 140 years in 2023 when the brunt of the destruction unfolded in neighbouring Hebei province.
Saudi Gazette
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Millions told to stay indoors as China braces for strong winds
BEIJING — Workers have been told to hurry home, classes have been suspended and outdoor events have been canceled as northern China braces for extreme winds this weekend. Millions have been urged to stay indoors, with some state media outlets warning that people weighing less than 50kg (110lbs) may be "easily blown away". Winds reaching 150kph (93mph) are expected to sweep Beijing, Tianjin and other parts of Hebei region from Friday to Sunday, as a cold vortex moves southeast from Mongolia. For the first time in a decade, Beijing has issued an orange alert for gales — the second-highest in a four-tier weather warning system. Strong winds sweeping from Mongolia are not uncommon, especially at this time of the year. But the impending winds are expected to be stronger than anything the area has seen in years. Temperatures in Beijing are expected to drop by 13 degrees Celsius within 24 hours, when the strongest winds hit on Saturday, authorities said."This strong wind is extreme, lasts for a long time, affects a wide area, and is highly disastrous," the Beijing Meteorological Service measures wind speed with a scale that goes from level 1 to 17. A level 11 wind, according to the China Meteorological Administration, can cause "serious damage", while a level 12 wind brings "extreme destruction".The winds this weekend are expected to range from level 11 to sporting events slated for the weekend have been suspended, including the world's first humanoid robot half marathon, which will now be held on 19 and tourist attractions have been closed as authorities have told residents to avoid outdoor activities, while construction works and train services have been of trees across the city have been reinforced or pruned to prevent them from have warned people to avoid entering mountains and forests, where gusts are expected to be especially residents hunker down, social media users are finding humor in their shelved weekend plans."This wind is so sensible, it starts on Friday evening and ends on Sunday, without disrupting work on Monday at all," said a Weibo about the strong winds, and the warning that those weighing less than 50kg could be swept away, have been trending on Chinese social media. One Weibo user quipped: "I eat so much all the time, just for this day."Beijing has also issued an alert for forest fires and prohibited people from starting fires winds are expected to start weakening on Sunday night. — BBC
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Millions told to stay indoors as China braces for strong winds
Workers have been told to hurry home, classes have been suspended and outdoor events have been cancelled as northern China braces for extreme winds this weekend. Millions have been urged to stay indoors, with some state media outlets warning that people weighing less than 50kg (110lbs) may be "easily blown away". Winds reaching 150kph (93mph) are expected to sweep Beijing, Tianjin and other parts of Hebei region from Friday to Sunday, as a cold vortex moves southeast from Mongolia. For the first time in a decade, Beijing has issued an orange alert for gales - the second-highest in a four-tier weather warning system. Strong winds sweeping from Mongolia are not uncommon, especially at this time of the year. But the impending winds are expected to be stronger than anything the area has seen in years. Temperatures in Beijing are expected to drop by 13 degrees Celsius within 24 hours, when the strongest winds hit on Saturday, authorities said. "This strong wind is extreme, lasts for a long time, affects a wide area, and is highly disastrous," the Beijing Meteorological Service said. China measures wind speed with a scale that goes from level 1 to 17. A level 11 wind, according to the China Meteorological Administration, can cause "serious damage", while a level 12 wind brings "extreme destruction". The winds this weekend are expected to range from level 11 to 13. Several sporting events slated for the weekend have been suspended, including the world's first humanoid robot half marathon, which will now be held on 19 April. Parks and tourist attractions have been closed as authorities have told residents to avoid outdoor activities, while construction works and train services have been suspended. Thousands of trees across the city have been reinforced or pruned to prevent them from falling. Officials have warned people to avoid entering mountains and forests, where gusts are expected to be especially strong. As residents hunker down, social media users are finding humour in their shelved weekend plans. "This wind is so sensible, it starts on Friday evening and ends on Sunday, without disrupting work on Monday at all," said a Weibo user. Hashtags about the strong winds, and the warning that those weighing less than 50kg could be swept away, have been trending on Chinese social media. One Weibo user quipped: "I eat so much all the time, just for this day." Beijing has also issued an alert for forest fires and prohibited people from starting fires outdoors. The winds are expected to start weakening on Sunday night.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
China braces for strong winds with millions told to stay indoors
Workers have been told to hurry home, classes have been suspended and outdoor events have been cancelled as northern China braces for extreme winds this have been urged to stay indoors, with some state media outlets warning that people weighing less than 50kg (110lbs) may be "easily blown away".Winds reaching 150kph (93mph) are expected to sweep Beijing, Tianjin and other parts of Hebei region from Friday to Sunday, as a cold vortex moves southeast from the first time in a decade, Beijing has issued an orange alert for gales - the second-highest in a four-tier weather warning system. Strong winds sweeping from Mongolia are not uncommon, especially at this time of the year. But the impending winds are expected to be stronger than anything the area has seen in in Beijing are expected to drop by 13 degrees Celsius within 24 hours, when the strongest winds hit on Saturday, authorities said."This strong wind is extreme, lasts for a long time, affects a wide area, and is highly disastrous," the Beijing Meteorological Service measures wind speed with a scale that goes from level 1 to 17. A level 11 wind, according to the China Meteorological Administration, can cause "serious damage", while a level 12 wind brings "extreme destruction".The winds this weekend are expected to range from level 11 to 13. Several sporting events slated for the weekend have been suspended, including the world's first humanoid robot half marathon, which will now be held on 19 and tourist attractions have been closed as authorities have told residents to avoid outdoor activities, while construction works and train services have been of trees across the city have been reinforced or pruned to prevent them from have warned people to avoid entering mountains and forests, where gusts are expected to be especially residents hunker down, social media users are finding humour in their shelved weekend plans."This wind is so sensible, it starts on Friday evening and ends on Sunday, without disrupting work on Monday at all," said a Weibo about the strong winds, and the warning that those weighing less than 50kg could be swept away, have been trending on Chinese social media. One Weibo user quipped: "I eat so much all the time, just for this day."Beijing has also issued an alert for forest fires and prohibited people from starting fires outdoors. The winds are expected to start weakening on Sunday night.
