Rains will cool regions but raise flooding risk

Rainfall is expected to drench areas of northern China until Tuesday, bringing an end to the scorching temperatures but increasing the risk of floods in many rivers.

Forecasts from the National Meteorological Center show most areas in the country's northwest, north and northeast regions would experience showers or thundershowers for the next two days, with precipitation of up to 180 centimeters.

The rain will be brief but strong in some areas, with hourly precipitation of up to 50 millimeters, while several regions are expected to see strong winds and hailstorms, according to the center. Beijing was expected to see frequent thunderstorms, it added.

The wet weather will help reduce the high temperatures that have lingered in northern China since Wednesday and is expected to relieve the drought that has troubled several areas, forecasters said.

However, according to information from the center, drought conditions in some parts of Liaoning and Jilin provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region may remain grim, as rainfall will be unevenly distributed.

The rainfall will also increase geological hazards in central Gansu province and in southeastern Jilin, it added.

"The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei province region and Gansu need to strengthen hydrologic monitoring in medium-sized and small rivers and reservoirs as well as comb through these water bodies to thoroughly root out safety hazards," the national observatory said, adding that special attention should be paid to mountain torrents.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Sunday that northern China will experience its heaviest rainfall on Tuesday, with Beijing potentially getting up to 70 mm.

The rain could cause at least six major rivers to flood, and the water level in some small and medium-sized rivers is expected to rise above warning levels, it said.

The headquarters has notified authorities in six provincial regions to take measures against possible mountain torrents and debris flows.

"People in the lower reaches of water bodies with safety hazard should be evacuated immediately," the headquarters said in a statement.