BEIJING, China: China's strongest typhoon of the year has brought heavy rain and flooding across large parts of the country, including Beijing, where intense downpours flooded major roads and left vehicles stranded.

The storm has weakened after making landfall, but its remaining rain clouds have continued to carry large amounts of tropical moisture deep into the country. This has increased the risk of flooding in several regions.

China has faced a growing number of severe weather events in recent years. Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and strength of extreme weather to climate change. This year, an emerging El Niño pattern has also contributed to higher temperatures and helped create conditions for stronger and more frequent typhoons.

Beijing issued its second-highest rainstorm warning as heavy rain moved across the capital. According to the official Xinhua news agency, authorities suspended 250 bus routes, closed 150 tourist attractions and ordered 10 subway lines to operate at lower speeds.

Video footage shared on China's Rednote showed a major multi-lane road in Beijing transformed into what appeared to be a river. Traffic came to a standstill while several cars and buses were partially submerged in floodwater.

Changping district in northern Beijing recorded the city's highest hourly rainfall on August 12. Authorities said the area received 90.7 millimeters, or about 3.6 inches, of rain within one hour after 9 a.m.

The typhoon had traveled about 6,000 kilometers, or 3,700 miles, before reaching land in Zhejiang province. Although the storm has weakened since then, its remains have continued to pull tropical moisture inland, creating the threat of further flooding.

Zhejiang has also experienced serious flooding. In the coastal city of Yuhuan, nearly 200 millimeters, or about eight inches, of rain flooded nearby streets. Verified social media footage showed large numbers of cars packed onto a bridge that remained above the rising floodwater.

State media reported that rainfall records were broken in several parts of Zhejiang as well as in the central provinces of Henan and Hubei.

The city of Wugang recorded its highest one-day rainfall for August, receiving 209.5 millimeters, or about 8.2 inches, of rain. Wugang is home to one of China's largest steel companies. The nearby city of Xiangyang also received 169.1 millimeters, or 6.6 inches, of rain.

People in northern and central China were preparing for several more days of rainfall as the storm's huge rain bands continued to move across the country.

China's weather agencies are also turning increasingly to artificial intelligence to improve forecasts. Meteorologists are testing a new generation of AI-powered weather models that could work alongside traditional forecasting systems and help authorities prepare for more extreme weather.

Severe rainfall causes billions of dollars in economic damage in China every year. Floods and storms can disrupt factories and other businesses, destroy crops, and cause major losses for farmers.

The continuing rainfall has highlighted the growing challenge China faces from extreme weather and the need for stronger systems to predict and manage floods.