Freezing Temps, Howling Winds Prompt Beijing Weather Warning

原创 Anna PH theBeijinger

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Freeze your t*ts off on Tuesday? You weren’t alone. Beijing experienced the coldest day of winter so far, with temperatures ranging from -10°C down to a low of -13°C.

In addition, howling 30-50km nor-westerly winds added a significant wind chill factor, which resulted in a “feels like” temperature of -21°C, all of which prompted the Beijing Meteorological Service to issue blue gale warnings, and a cold wave weather alert for the whole city. At least it blows away the smog, right?

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The mercury is set to slowly rise for the next couple of days, with a 1°C maximum today, but minimums will hover between -9°C and -15°C through the end of next week.

In response to the freezing temperatures, the Service recommends layering up to stay warm and prevent frostbite, avoiding slippery and snowy roads when walking and driving, and keeping a wary eye for falling objects, Beijing being no stranger to wind-related tragedies. Just last May, four people were killed during gale-force wind conditions, which also grounded multiple flights from the Capital Airport, while in November a student was swept off a cliff to her death while hiking in Fangshan District.

This may come as cold comfort perhaps, but according to Beijing Evening News the coldest December temperature since the establishment of the Southern Suburb Observatory was -18.3°C, on Dec 27, 1966. But many of you may remember the lowest December day in the last decade which occurred quite recently, Dec 31, 2019, a bone aching -14.4°C.