China's meteorological authorities on Saturday renewed blue alerts for cold waves and strong winds, with sharp drops in temperature and powerful winds expected to hit parts of the country in the coming days.
From Saturday to Thursday, temperatures in most parts of China will fall by six to 10 degrees Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).
Some places in the northwestern, northern and northeastern parts of China are expected to experience temperature drops between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius, with some areas up to 16 degrees Celsius.
The center also renewed a blue alert for strong winds for regions including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Xizang, Ningxia, the Taiwan Strait, the sea area off the east of Taiwan, and parts of the South China Sea.
According to the forecast, northern parts of China will see strong winds between force five and six, with gusts reaching force eight. Offshore winds are expected to hit force eight, with gusts reaching force nine. The NMC has urged vessels in potentially affected sea areas to take precautions against the dangerous conditions.
In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a snowstorm struck the Tianshan Mountains along National Highway 218 on Friday, with wind gusts reaching force 10. Visibility in some sections dropped to under 50 meters, while heavy snow and ice have caused dangerous driving conditions.
Meanwhile, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has seen its first major snowfall of the season, with accumulations ranging from 4 to 8 millimeters. Road maintenance teams have been deployed to clear snow and apply anti-slip measures to ensure road safety for motorists.
China has a three-tier, color-coded weather warning system for cold waves, with orange representing the most severe weather, followed by yellow and blue.
China renews alerts for cold waves, strong winds
