Beijing is less likely to encounter mudslides this summer, an expert with the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said on Monday.

On Aug 7, landslides hit Zhouqu county of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture around midnight, claiming more than 1,200 lives.

The tragedy raised concerns about the possibility of mudslides in the city. Mirror Evening News reported on Aug 9 that Beijing bears a higher risk than usual this year of debris-flows.

However, Zhang Mingying, a senior engineer with the Beijing Meteorological Station, said that, based on the data collected from July 1 to Aug 15, that is not the case,

According to the statistics, rainfall during this period was 70 percent less than usual, leading to lower surface water content, which means there is less possibility of mudslides.

"But there might still be rainstorms in the second half of the flood season, which may cause landslides," Zhang said.

But he added that debris-flows would not happen until all the required geological and meteorological conditions are met.

"Mudslide-prone areas in Beijing must satisfy certain geological conditions," Zhang said. "Other factors such as devastating rain over a short period, and high surface water content before that rain are also prerequisite."

Even if severe mudslides should occur, the city's geological conditions mean Beijing would never be devastated, Zhang said.

On a map allegedly provided by the Beijing Institute of Geology, 18 scenic spots and 200 villages in mountain areas are included in the geological disaster-prone areas, Mirror Evening News reported on Aug 9.

The map shows two belts of mountain areas with a high risk of landslides, located in the northeast and southwest of Beijing. Parts of Miyun, Huairou and Yanqing districts run through the belts, with famous tourist attractions such as Yunmeng Mountain and Tan Tuo Temple.

But Zhang said the map does not indicate people should avoid these places throughout summer, maybe just when it is raining. "Generally speaking, places with better natural views are more prone to geological disasters," he said.

In June 1991, Miyun district experienced a severe mudslide, which cost 28 lives and destroyed more than 5,000 houses.

It has been almost 20 years since the last great landslide in Beijing. But the end of this year's flood season is yet to come, which means preparations are still needed, said Zhang.

Since 2003, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau has been working with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources to forecast landslides.

Warnings will be made to places in danger following alarms of rainstorms and analysis of the geological conditions, Zhang said.

Extreme weather lights up warning system

Eight radar towers and 20 screens providing early warning are already in operation. The system is designed to alert the public to potentially hazardous weather, including rainstorms and hail.

The eight steel towers are 16.6 meters high and have new warning lights at the top, which glow blue, yellow, orange or red according to the disaster grade, and which are currently being trailed. In the middle of each of the towers is a triangular stand with a 4.7-square-meter color LED screen on each of the three sides. Early warning information and weather reports from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau are displayed on these screens 24-hours a day.

"The LED screens have been in use since 2008, and they played an important role during the 29th Olympics and the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC; the light is still being tested," said the Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

According to the meteorological bureau they release meteorological information to the public through TV, radio, newspapers and SMS. However, extreme weather is normally centralized and happens very quickly, so that these early warning radar towers are placed where traffic and foot traffic is busy.