With the daylight slowly breaking through around seven o'clock on the morning of July 30th, the relentless sound of rain persisted. At the entrance of the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, damp rain gear was meticulously arranged in a line, with the entire team assembled for the 8 AM national weather briefing.  

This rainfall was accurately forecasted three days in advance. The forecast indicated that the period between July 30th and July 31st would witness the heaviest rainfall in Beijing.  

Everyone was vigilantly prepared! By 4 p.m. on July 28th, the Beijing Meteorological Service (BMS) had transitioned into a heightened operational mode; then, at 10 a.m. on July 29th, a Level-1 emergency response was activated.  

On July 29th, municipal officials and leaders from the China Meteorological Administration visited the BMS to get updates on the latest forecasts and offer guidance.  

However, it was difficult to precisely locate the areas, intensity, and duration of this rainfall.

The Municipal Meteorological Observation Center carried out a coordinated radar networking observation test. The Institute of Urban Meteorology, CMA, Beijing deployed key personnel to support the Municipal Meteorological Observatory. Leveraging precipitation data from 20 national-level meteorological stations in Beijing, the Beijing Climate Center provided an analysis of the historical impact of typhoons on Beijing.

At 10:34 am on July 30th, during a video conference convened at the Beijing Emergency Command Center, a weather radar animation resembling a torch exhibited a distinct spiral rain band feature. During the conference, there were no modifications made to the forecasted assertion of "accumulative local precipitation surpassing 600 millimeters".

In response to the extended duration, significant cumulative precipitation, and elevated risk of disasters associated with this rainfall, the BMS advanced each stage of the "31631" progressive service, conducted an analysis and assessment of the impact of "Doksuri" on Beijing four days ahead of time, informed municipal leaders and impacted areas three days in advance, and issued a red warning a day earlier.  

As the meteorological alerts acted as the "call to action" for flood prevention, the BMS remained in constant communication, 24/7, along with other units, including the Beijing Emergency Management Bureau, the Flood Control Office, and the Beijing Water Authority, consistently sharing the most up-to-date weather information and collaboratively safeguarding the city’s "lifeline."  

As of now, 46 flights and 72 trains have been canceled citywide. A total of 3,128 teams, comprising over 200,000 individuals, have been mobilized for flood emergency response, aiming to ensure the overall smooth functioning of the city.  

"Despite the continuous dedication and sleepless nights, we must not slacken", said Hao Liping, Director of the BMS.      

As dusk settled in, the lights of the BMS still shone brightly.