China braces for widespread winter snow, strong winds

China's National Meteorological Center on Thursday maintained a blue alert for a cold wave and a separate blue alert for strong winds, forecasting a widespread drop in temperatures and the first large-scale snowfall this winter across northern China over the next few days.

From Wednesday to Saturday, most regions of the country are expected to experience a significant drop in temperatures, with average daily or minimum temperatures projected to fall by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius.

On Wednesday, light to moderate snow or sleet is forecast for parts of western and northern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China and central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China. The snowfall is set to expand noticeably on Thursday and Friday, with regions including Inner Mongolia, northwest China's Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hebei in north China, and central China's Henan, all likely to see heavy snow or even blizzards.

Affected by a strong cold air mass, many areas of Xinjiang are experiencing significant snowfall, strong winds, and a severe cold wave, with minimum temperatures dropping by 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.

In recent days, Altay City, Huyanghe City, and Xinyuan County in Xinjiang have experienced widespread snowfall. In response, local authorities deployed multiple snowplows overnight to clear roads and ensure they remained clear.

On Wednesday morning, temperatures in Ergun City in Inner Mongolia plummeted dramatically, with the lowest recorded in the urban area reaching minus 31 degrees Celsius. The Sanhe Agricultural and Pastoral Farm experienced even more extreme conditions, reporting a low of minus 39.9 degrees Celsius.

Due to the influence of the cold air mass, the Jiayin section of the Heilongjiang River has entered a complete freezing period. This section has been frozen for over three days, earlier this year than last year, and the freezing period is expected to last about four months, according to local hydrological authorities.

Starting Wednesday, Shandong is experiencing a cold wave, with widespread snowfall, temperature drops, and strong winds. The provincial observatory has issued a blue alert for the cold wave.

Beijing is expected to experience its first significant snowfall of this winter season on Friday as a strong cold front moves into the region, the municipal meteorological observatory said on Wednesday.

Most parts of the city are forecast to see moderate snowfall, and some southern areas and mountainous regions may experience heavy snow, according to the Beijing Meteorological Observatory.

As the temperature in Beijing continues to drop, Kunming Lake of the Summer Palace has entered its freezing period, adding a unique charm to winter park visits.

Meteorological experts warn that this cold wave will cover extensive areas and may be accompanied by sharp temperature drops and strong winds. Relevant authorities are urged to take comprehensive preventive measures, while the public is advised to stay warm and exercise caution regarding traffic safety.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Also on Wednesday, the China Meteorological Administration activated a Level IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters, its first such action targeting the current cold wave.

China's emergency response system has four tiers, with Level I being the most severe.

China braces for widespread winter snow, strong winds

China braces for widespread winter snow, strong winds

Pakistani warplanes struck several locations across Afghanistan on Thursday night and Friday, killing at least six people, including a woman and a child, and wounding more than a dozen others, local officials said.

The strikes hit a fuel depot near the country's Kandahar Airport, areas in the capital Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar Province.

A Pakistani security source said the strikes targeted hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In Kabul's 21st police district, one of the areas hit, a market was left in ruins. Several cars were destroyed, and windows of buildings in the market and nearby areas were shattered. A crater caused by the Pakistani airstrikes was also visible.

"This is my car. I had parked it here, and it was the only way I could bring food to my family's table. It was my sole source of income and my only means of employment. Now my car is in this condition, and I have no other way to provide for my family," said Mohamad Ghulam, a taxi driver.

The airstrikes destroyed a house, killing four members of a single family. More than a dozen other households in the area reported their homes either fully or partially destroyed.

One of the victims was 22-year-old Hedayatullah, who had just been married. He was killed alongside his pregnant wife, as well as his brother and sister.

"Hedayatullah got married nine months ago. His brother was 18 years old. He himself was 22 years old, he also had a 12-year-old sister, and his wife was about 19 years old and was pregnant," said Ghulam Sakhi, a relative of the victims.

"This neighbor of ours was a family of five. Their mother was not present at the moment of the bombardment, but the rest of them lost their lives. It was Hedayatuallah's family. From my own family, two of my daughters, my sister-in-law, my brother, and two nieces got injured," said Mohamad Homayoun, a survivor.

In the past weeks, scores of people from both sides have been killed or injured in the conflict between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, according to officials from the two countries.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called for an immediate halt to cross-border clashes, warning that the escalating violence is driving a surge in civilian casualties and deepening a humanitarian crisis.

At least 6 killed, more than a dozen wounded in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan: officials