Beijing experiences abrupt bout of strong wind

Beijing was hit by an abrupt bout of strong wind and heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by thunder, lightning and hail in certain areas.

At around 3 pm, most areas of Beijing experienced short-term strong wind of 8 to 10 on the 13-tier Beaufort scale raging from 0 to 12. At Qianlingshan Mountain in Fengtai district, the maximum wind speed reached 37.2 meters per second, hitting level-13, equivalent to typhoon strength, according to the meteorological department.

After the unexpected wind, there were instances of branches and motorcycles falling over on the streets, worsening road congestion in the evening rush hour.

In some areas, relevant departments have dispatched workers to clear the road and inspect the electricity.

Beijing renewed alerts for short-lived strong winds, thunder and lightning, and hailstone, cautioning residents about taking appropriate protective measures.

There have been no reports of causalities or injuries yet.