Rain Likely at Beijing Olympics’ Opening Ceremony

The Bird`s Nest in Beijing. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is predicting a 40 percent chance of rain the day of the Olympics’ opening ceremony. (AFP/Getty Images)

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is predicting a 40 percent chance of rain the day of the Olympics’ opening ceremony. 

The CMA is also warning that hurricanes could interrupt sporting events held in other cities during the Games. 

The weather conditions during the Games have become a hot topic for media, particularly for the opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest. 

According to Central News Agency the Beijing Olympic Committee has said their main concern is rain.

Ten thousand performers will participate in the opening ceremony and there will also be extensive fireworks.

Wang Jianjie, deputy director of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, said during a press conference on August 3 that the weather forecast would be certainly poor for the opening ceremony on August 8. 

Ms. Wang said they could not accurately predict weather on that day or whether rain would interrupt the opening ceremony, but they expect that any rain will clear in the evening.

Zhai Panmao, deputy director of the Prediction and Disaster Mitigation Department of CMA, said it could rain in Beijing for the next 10 days.

Mr. Zhai said that there is a 40 percent chance of rain on August 8, and that Beijing’s rainfall is usually at its peak between late July and early August.

Up to 70 mm (2.8 inches) of rain is expected to affect east and north regions in Huabei area of China, and some areas could receive 100 to150 mm (4 to 6 inches). But experts have said the “main storm will only brush by Beijing.”

Two or three hurricanes are also expected in the Pacific Ocean from August 8-24, Ms. Wang said.

The CMA said they would pay close attention to the hurricanes’ movements. 

Rainstorms could affect equestrian events in Hong Kong and soccer in Shanghai. 

Ms. Wang said that sailing events in Qingdao could also be threatened by poor weather conditions.

The Beijing Meteorological Bureau was quoted in the Beijing Morning Post saying that around 10 mm of rainfall is expected during the opening ceremony and they are looking at artificial measures to combat the rain. 

But the Bureau later reversed their statement.

“If we get as much rain as the rehearsal on July 30, artificial rain counter-measures would not solve the problem,” the report said.