As northern China prepares for extreme weather conditions this weekend, officials are urging the public to stay inside due to predictions of powerful winds reaching up to 150 kph (93 mph).
China Issues Weather Alert as Powerful Winds Approach
China Issues Weather Alert as Powerful Winds Approach
Authorities warn millions in northern China to remain indoors as dangerous winds are set to hit.
Officials across northern China are on high alert as they brace for a strong cold vortex descending from Mongolia. A red alert has been issued, with schools closing and outdoor events canceled as winds of unprecedented intensity approach.
Millions of residents have been advised to head home quickly, with concerns that lightweight individuals could be at risk of being blown away. The China Meteorological Administration has indicated that this will be the strongest wind event in years, prompting Beijing to issue an orange alert for the first time in a decade.
The powerful gusts are expected to impact areas including Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, with anticipated wind speeds ranging from levels 11 to 13 on China's wind speed scale. The significant drop in temperatures, expected to be around 13 degrees Celsius within a day, is also causing alarm.
"For the first time in a decade, we have issued this warning as the winds pose a real threat," remarked a representative from the Beijing Meteorological Service, emphasizing the potential for extensive disruptions.
In response to the impending winds, city officials have taken precautionary measures, reinforcing trees and halting construction works while suspending train services. As outdoor events and attractions close down, the public has turned to social media to express their reactions, often with humor, to the chaotic weekend ahead.
With hashtags about the winds trending online, some users made light of the situation by joking about their stashed weekend plans. The public has also been warned of the increased risk for forest fires, leading to restrictions against outdoor fires.
Although the winds are forecasted to weaken by Sunday evening, the community is left to calculate the broader implications of this extreme weather event.
