In brief
Beijing experiences its most intense winds in over 50 years, resulting in widespread cancellations and public safety advisories.
Hundreds of flights have been scrapped and train services suspended in Beijing due to powerful winds sweeping through the region. As of 11:30 AM local time on Saturday, a staggering 838 flights had been cancelled at the city’s two primary airports, as reported by Reuters. Wind gusts reaching up to 93 mph (150 kph) mark the strongest winds Beijing has experienced in over half a century, and they are anticipated to persist throughout the weekend, necessitating the closure of numerous attractions and historic sites.Authorities urged millions of residents to remain indoors, issuing warnings that individuals weighing under 50kg might be susceptible to being "easily blown away." Reports indicate that critical train services, including the express subway service to the airport and various high-speed rail lines, were halted. Additionally, parks were closed as precautionary measures, with efforts made to reinforce or trim vulnerable trees. Despite those precautions, nearly 300 trees have already toppled throughout the city.Although some vehicles sustained damage, authorities reported no injuries. Residents in Beijing responded to advisories by largely avoiding the streets. One local expressed that the situation, while serious, wasn't as dire as anticipated: “Everyone in Beijing was really nervous about it. Today, there are hardly any people on the streets.” Meanwhile, a businessman from the Zhejiang province, near Shanghai, found himself stranded in Beijing due to his flight home being cancelled: "Because of the severe winds, all flights scheduled for last night and today were cancelled. So I will probably rebook my flight in a couple of days."The extreme winds are attributed to a cold vortex system originating from Mongolia and are expected to last through the weekend. Although strong winds bringing sand and dust from Mongolia are common in spring, climate change could be making these storms more intense.In light of this extreme weather, Beijing issued its first orange alert for high winds in a decade, with the most powerful gusts projected for Saturday. The China Meteorological Administration uses a 17-level wind speed scale; a level 11 wind can inflict "serious damage," while a level 12 wind signifies "extreme destruction." This weekend, winds are forecasted to fall within the level 11 to 13 range, with conditions expected to improve by Sunday.
