China’s temperature plummets by more than 20 degrees, welcoming severe cold weather

Beijing authorities issue orange alert again

Beijing:

Severe weather warnings were issued for large swaths of China on Wednesday, with temperatures plummeting in the south and Beijing shivering in heavy snow.

Authorities issued another orange alert – the highest level in the country’s three-tier system – warning that average temperatures in the south could drop by 6 to 12 degrees Celsius (43 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit) by Friday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on social media that temperatures may plummet by more than 20 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The National Meteorological Administration “called on local governments to take measures to prevent cold weather, advised the public to keep warm, and called for necessary measures to protect crops and aquatic products,” state news agency Xinhua said.

With temperatures hovering around freezing in Beijing on Wednesday, residents woke up to find the capital covered in white after a night of snow.

Traffic moves at a sluggish pace on city highways, while snow-covered sidewalks are dangerous for commuters and cyclists.

Municipal authorities said up to 4.1 centimeters (1.6 inches) of snow fell in some suburban areas and issued warnings about icy roads.

The city government issued a statement online on Tuesday night saying, “Residents…are advised to travel during off-peak hours, take buses and subways, drive slowly, and pay attention to safety.”

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