Capital issues fresh warning of rain

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The Beijing meteorological center issued a blue alert for rainstorms on Monday night as the capital's areas experienced heavy rains.

The average precipitation in eastern Fangshan district, Daxing and Tongzhou districts and central areas of Beijing were expected to reach 30 mm, said the alert, issued at 7:35 pm.

The center had previously forecast heavy rain in the capital from Monday night to Tuesday.

Due to bad weather, 23 flights were delayed and 26 canceled at Beijing Capital International Airport as of 8 pm on Monday.

The capital has been hit by several downpours over the past 10 days, particularly on July 21, when the heaviest rainfall in six decades lashed Beijing, causing 77 deaths.

After the deadly rainstorm on July 21, the local government of Beicheying erected dozens of tents on a school playground to house people whose homes were destroyed in the storm.

Chinese meteorological authorities use a four-tier color-coded weather warning system of "blue", "yellow", "orange" and "red", with "red" being the most severe.

On Monday, the National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for a rainstorm.

Heavy rain was expected to hit central and southern Shaanxi province, Shanxi province, central and southern Hebei province, central and southern Beijing, Tianjin, western Liaoning, northern Shandong and northern Henan, from 8 pm on Monday to 8 pm on Tuesday, it said.

Questions:

1. What was the average precipitation predicted for central areas of Beijing?

2. How many flights were cancelled at Beijing Capital International Airport?

3. How many people died on July 21?

Answers:

1. 30 mm.

2. 26.

3. 77.

About the broadcaster:

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.