Beijing hail n heat- research for next Heating Planet post

AI: As of mid-September 2025, Beijing has experienced several significant storms this year, including a severe hailstorm in September and deadly floods from torrential rain in late July. These incidents follow a pattern of increasingly extreme weather that experts link to climate change. 

September 2025 hailstorms 

• September 13 and 14: Multiple hailstorms, including one with "ping pong ball-sized" hail, struck various districts, causing significant damage.
  • The severe convective weather brought strong winds, heavy rain, and disrupted transport.
  • The storms followed a humid afternoon, and meteorologists attributed them to the interaction of a low-pressure trough with humid air.
• September 9: An earlier hailstorm hit the city, disrupting the evening commute with heavy rain, lightning, and hail. 

Summer 2025 flooding

• Late July floods: From July 23 to 29, torrential rains caused severe flooding that killed at least 44 people in Beijing.
  • Many of the victims included residents of a nursing home in the northeastern Miyun district, who were unexpectedly trapped by rapidly rising water.
  • Officials admitted shortcomings in their contingency plans for extreme weather events following the fatalities.
• August storm alert: Authorities reinforced flood defenses and expanded storm alerts in early August to brace for more heavy rainfall.
  • More than 70,000 residents were relocated as all 16 of Beijing's districts were placed under the highest level of flood preparedness.
  • Forecasters warned of an "extremely high" risk of flash floods and landslides in the mountainous western and northern districts. 

Spring 2025 weather

• April windstorm: An exceptionally rare and powerful windstorm impacted northern China, including Beijing, between April 11 and 14.
  • In Beijing, the storm's "hurricane-force gusts" uprooted thousands of trees, damaged vehicles, and caused power line disruptions.
  • The extreme winds were accompanied by sandstorms and temperature declines.
• March sandstorm and earthquake: A severe sandstorm hit northern China in late March, plunging Beijing into darkness and hazardous air conditions.
  • This was followed by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in the neighboring Hebei province.