Beijing issues orange rainstorm alert, encourages flexible work arrangements

After issuing an orange rainstorm alert this morning, the Beijing government encourages enterprises and institutions to adopt flexible work arrangements or staggered commuting times due to the expected heavy rainfall on late Wednesday afternoon.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe conditions, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

"This rainstorm is expected to last around 30 hours," said Zhang Linna, chief forecaster from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau. "From 5 pm today to 8 pm tomorrow, most areas of the city will experience heavy rainfall with hourly precipitation exceeding 70 millimeters."

"I suggest the residents get prepared for the upcoming rain from tonight until tomorrow morning, which is expected to be strong," she added.

According to the bureau, Beijing is expected to experience heavy rainfall, with the outer districts receiving the heaviest. The northwest mountainous areas and eastern regions of the capital may receive rainfall in excess of 100-150 millimeters within 24 hours.

All trains on the S2, Huairou—Miyun, and Tongzhou—Miyun lines in Beijing have been suspended. Scenic spots, including Tanzhe Temple and Miaofeng Mountain, have been temporarily closed.

On Wednesday afternoon, the city's sports authority required related bureaus and federations to halt large-scale sports events and outdoor sports activities or training sessions.

To address this extreme rainfall, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding, the lowest level of flood emergency response in the country, in Beijing and Hebei Province on Wednesday.

Li Boyu contributed to this story.