BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The heaviest rainstorm of the year hit Beijing from Thursday night through early Friday early, with downtown areas having the most rainfall, said the municipal weather service Friday.

 Zhang Mingying, chief engineer with Beijing Municipal Weather Service, said it rained hard at 11 p.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday, with areas around Chang'an Avenue, a west-east landmark thoroughfare in the national capital, having a rainfall between 80 mm to 100 mm. In the suburbs of Yanqing, Mentougou and Changping, however, it rained slightly.