A snowfall hit Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, on Tuesday, affecting local transportation as many residents returned to work after the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, which concluded on Monday.
At an overpass in downtown Urumqi, traffic remains heavy although the morning rush hour has passed. Vehicles moved at reduced speeds, with drivers keeping safe distances from one another.
Daytime temperatures in Urumqi had risen to around three degrees Celsius in recent days, causing existing snow across the city to gradually melt. Passing vehicles turned the road's snow into watery slush, making the surface wet and slippery, with drivers seen proceeding with extra caution.
To address the situation, the city's traffic police launched an emergency response to severe weather on Tuesday morning, deploying officers at key intersections to direct traffic and ease congestion. Thanks to these measures, traffic during the morning peak remained relatively smooth overall.
The snow also affected other parts of Xinjiang. In the Ili River Valley in northwest Xinjiang, heavy snow hit the Guozigou section of the G30 Lianyungang–Khorgos Expressway since Monday afternoon. Local traffic police promptly activated emergency plans, stepped up patrols, and imposed temporary traffic controls on the highway. They also assisted drivers involved in minor accidents caused by slippery roads. By around 10:00 Tuesday, snowfall in the Guozigou section had largely subsided, and traffic was gradually restored.
According to the Xinjiang Meteorological Center, snowfall and a temperature drop are expected to continue until Tuesday night and may persist until early Wednesday morning in some mountainous areas. The local meteorological center has issued a yellow alert, the third-highest level, for road icing, reminding drivers on the road or returning to work to stay updated on weather conditions and plan their travel accordingly.
Snow impacts traffic in Xinjiang as work resumes after Spring Festival holiday
