Beijing's 22 million residents were warned over the weekend to remain indoors due to strong winds sweeping across northern China, which are anticipated to be the most intense in April for 70 years. The winds, originating from a polar vortex in Mongolia, could reach speeds between 83 to 92 miles per hour, leading to not only fallen trees and disrupted travel but also oppressive dust storms throughout the region.
On Saturday morning, more than 400 trees had been uprooted in Beijing, and the authorities reported evacuating nearly 7,000 people from affected areas. The tempest began affecting the region on Friday with winds and rain, and continued to escalate, prompting the city's emergency services to act quickly. Dust storms swept through the northern provinces, leaving many residents like Yang Bobo, a finance postgraduate student, stunned by the ferocity of the gusts that seemed to howl through the streets.
In addition to rattling windows and uprooting trees, the winds also severely hindered transport services. Beijing's city government advised against nonessential travel, postponing soccer matches and canceling hundreds of flights. Train and bus services were also suspended as a precaution. The city’s main international airport issued warnings regarding potential flight disruptions, with China Southern Airlines reporting the cancellation of about 340 flights due to adverse weather conditions.
In contrast to prior mild, 80-degree Fahrenheit days in Beijing, temperatures during the windy spell were set to plummet to just 57 Fahrenheit. Wider weather patterns indicated that neighboring provinces Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia would also experience strong winds, echoing alerts from meteorologists in South Korea and Japan—further confirmation of the severe weather originating from the same turbulent atmospheric conditions over Mongolia.
As the region grapples with these unprecedented winds, residents remain on alert, mindful of the potential dangers lurking in the tumultuous weather.
