A taxi runs on a flooded street in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2009. A heavy rain hit Beijing on Thursday evening and caused traffic jam. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang) Photo Gallery>>>

   　BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The heaviest rainstorm of the year hit Beijing from Thursday night through early Friday early, with downtown areas having the most rainfall, said the municipal weather service Friday.

    Zhang Mingying, chief engineer with Beijing Municipal Weather Service, said it rained hard at 11 p.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday, with areas around Chang'an Avenue, a west-east landmark thoroughfare in the national capital, having a rainfall between 80 mm to 100 mm. In the suburbs of Yanqing, Mentougou and Changping, however, it rained slightly.

    Rainfall statistics given by Beijing Municipal Weather Service showed from 2 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, the national capital had an average rainfall of 20 mm, but 33 mm in downtown areas. Tian'anmen Square, the heart of Beijing, was believed to have the biggest rainfall of 116 mm, while Nanchangjie, another south to north street across the Chang'an Avenue, had a precipitation of 140.6 mm.

    Rainstorms with a rainfall of 100 mm are normalto Beijing, which is now at a prime flood season,said Zhang.

    The previous heaviest rainstorm that hit Beijing was on July 14, with an average rainfall of 15 mm in the urban areas.

    The rains flooded some roads and affected traffic. But no accident was reported thus far. 

People walk on a flooded street in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo) Photo Gallery>>>

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