Severe weather warnings were in place across swathes of China on Wednesday as temperatures plummeted across the south and Beijing shivered in snowy conditions.
![People visit the Forbidden City a day after snowfall in Beijing on February 21, 2024. Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP.](https://hongkongfp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AFP__20240221__34JR4XR__v1__HighRes__ChinaWeather-Copy-1050x700.jpg)
Authorities renewed an orange alert — the highest in the country’s three-tier system — warning that average temperatures in the south could fall by six to 12 degrees Celsius (43 to 53 Fahrenheit) by Friday.
In some areas, the mercury could plunge by over 20C, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on social media.
State news agency Xinhua said the NMC had “called on local governments to take precautions against the cold weather, advised the public to keep warm, and called for necessary measures to protect crops and aquatic products”.
In Beijing, where temperatures hovered around freezing on Wednesday, residents awoke to find the capital blanketed in white following an overnight snowfall.
Traffic slowed to a crawl on the city’s highways, while snow-dusted pavements proved treacherous for commuters and cyclists.
Municipal authorities said up to 4.1 centimetres (1.6 inches) of snow had fallen in some suburban areas and issued a warning over icy roads.
“It is recommended that residents… stagger their travel, use public buses and subways, drive their own cars slowly and pay attention to safety,” the city government said in an online statement Tuesday evening.
Dateline:
Beijing, China
Type of Story: News Service
Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to high journalistic standards.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
![contribute to hkfp methods](https://hongkongfp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/contribute-to-hkfp-methods-1050x53.jpg)
LATEST FROM HKFP
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.