A strong cold snap brought this winter's first snow to Huize County in southwest China's Yunnan Province in the wee hours of Monday, earlier than in an average year.
Local meteorological authorities issued early warnings ahead of the cold snap, while traffic management departments worked overnight to guard against icy roads.
Forecasters expect sleet to continue across the county over the next 24 hours, with the rain and snow tapering off and the skies clearing up by Wednesday morning.
First winter snow blankets southwest China county
The National Yellow River Wetland Nature Reserve in Luoyang City's Mengjin District, central China's Henan Province, welcomed its first batch of overwintering black storks, a national first-class protected wild animal, on Friday.
Footage recorded by local researchers captured multiple black storks wandering through wetlands in groups, strolling leisurely in black, metallic plumage.
The group numbered 21 birds and arrived earlier than in previous years, when they typically reached the area in mid-to-late November.
Black storks arrive early at Henan’s Yellow River wetland for wintering
