Beijing surprised many on Monday afternoon by making lots of people witness of a sudden light snowfall in this hot summer month of July, something rare and peculiar in Beijing's history.

According to Beijing Youth Daily report, the downtown area around the eastern Third Ring Road of Beijing was haunted by a sudden slight snowfall for about five minutes on Monday afternoon, when most parts of the city were hit by a worst ever heavy rain in years.

For the once-in-a-blue-moon weather change, many people nearby experienced an instant conversion to winter from summer.

"I saw black clouds come in from the southwest. Curiously, I ran from my office table over to have a look at the imminent rain outside our windows. But I was surprised to see a snowfall!" said Ms Li, who was working in a office building near Changhong Bridge.

The snowflakes were as large as five cent coins, some witness said. They melted as soon as they reached the ground. Heavy rain then followed.

The report quoted meteorology experts as saying the snow was caused by the acute convection of warm and cold air currents in summer. When the air currents take cumulonimbus clouds to a low level, lower temperatures in some areas will cause snow to form.

Snow is indeed rare at this time of year in Beijing, the experts added