Beijing issues alerts as remnants of Tropical Storm Dolphin approach

As the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolphin approach the region, Beijing is bracing for heavy rainfall from Tuesday evening through Thursday, with authorities warning of flooding and traffic disruptions and suspending three suburban railway lines.

The heaviest rainfall is expected from early Wednesday morning through the night, according to the Beijing Meteorological Service. The city issued an orange alert for rainstorms at 10 am on Monday. Additionally, the districts of Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou, and Fengtai, as well as the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, upgraded their alerts to red, the highest level.

Zhang Linna, chief forecaster at the Beijing Meteorological Service, said the rainfall would be widespread, prolonged, and intense, posing risks of weather-related disasters, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

Accumulated rainfall is expected to reach rainstorm levels across the city, with torrential rain forecast in southern areas and mountainous parts of western and northern Beijing.

The weather service warned of urban waterlogging and significant impacts on road traffic and city operations. In mountainous areas and surrounding regions, heavy rainfall could also trigger geological disasters, flash floods, and flooding in small and medium-sized rivers.

In response, all trains on Beijing's suburban S2, Huairou-Miyun, and Tongzhou-Miyun lines will be suspended from 2 pm Tuesday until 8 am Thursday, according to the official WeChat account of Yanqing district.

The rainfall will be driven by moisture from the outer circulation of Dolphin interacting with cold air from an upper-level trough, Zhang said.

As of 10 am Monday, Dolphin had weakened into a tropical storm over Zhejiang province and was moving northwest at 15 to 20 kilometers per hour.