Beijing Braces for Torrential Rain Equivalent to Over a Third of Annual Rainfall

China’s capital, Beijing, is bracing for extreme rainfall expected to lash the city from Tuesday evening (11/8/2026) until Thursday. Rainfall within 24 hours is forecast to reach more than a third of the city’s average annual precipitation.

Beijing’s meteorological service predicts most areas will experience heavy rain with accumulations exceeding 100 millimetres (mm) in six hours and surpassing 150 mm in 24 hours. The conditions are triggered by the meeting of moist air masses from Typhoon Dolphin in the south with cold air from northern China.

“Rainfall is expected to increase significantly from Tuesday evening,” the local meteorological service warned regarding the potential for heavy rain affecting most of Beijing, as quoted by Reuters.

In several districts, rainfall intensity is expected to be far higher. The areas of Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou, and Fengtai could receive more than 200 mm of rain within just 24 hours.

That figure is exceptionally high compared with Beijing’s annual rainfall. The city averages only about 528 mm of rain per year, most of which falls between June and September.

As such, more than 200 mm of rain in a single day in some areas equates to roughly 38% of Beijing’s average annual rainfall. These conditions heighten the risk of flooding, particularly in mountainous areas.

In Mentougou district in western Beijing, the local government has issued the highest-level flood emergency warning on Tuesday. Residents have been asked to remain indoors except for urgent needs.

Authorities have also urged the public to avoid travelling to mountainous areas and riverside locations during the extreme weather. The measure is intended to reduce the risk of accidents as well as the impact of flooding and landslides caused by high-intensity rainfall.