The city of Beijing has been hit by a fresh round of heavy rainfall since late Tuesday, with an orange rain alert in effect across the city and an upgrade to the highest-level red alert in some suburban districts of the city.
From Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon, the average precipitation citywide had reached 27.5 mm, with the maximum rainfall of 79.6 mm recorded at the Yudu Mountain in the northwestern suburban district of Yanqing, said the Beijing meteorological observatory.
In the Mentougou District in western Beijing, the cumulative rainfall has exceeded 50 mm, meeting the standard for heavy rain. River water levels have risen noticeably, but no major road waterlogging has occurred. The district has activated a Level I emergency response for flood control, with the rainfall expected to continue into Wednesday night.
Meteorological authorities warn that the public in mountainous areas should guard against possible geological hazards, and the persistent rainfall may also disrupt the evening rush hour traffic.
Meanwhile, the municipal flood control authorities have urged the public to limit travel, stay away from rivers, and avoid parking in low-lying zones or under bridges.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The national emergency response system also has four tiers, with Level I being the highest.
Beijing on alert of heavy rains, floods
The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.
Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.
The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.
"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.
The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.
Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.
"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.
Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near
