Millions Urged Indoors As China Faces Fierce Winds

Millions of people in northern China have been instructed to stay indoors as the region prepares for some of the strongest gusts it has witnessed in recent years. Severe weather warnings have been issued, public events and classes canceled, and citizens advised to avoid venturing outdoors unless absolutely necessary. The winds, which are being fueled by a strong cold vortex descending from Mongolia, are predicted to gust as high as 150 kilometers per hour (around 93 miles per hour) this weekend.

The Chinese capital, Beijing, and the neighboring city of Tianjin and the Hebei province that surrounds them are likely to take the full force of the harsh weather. These winds form part of a larger seasonal cycle that involves gusts blowing in from Mongolia, but meteorologists indicate the system currently in place is much stronger than normal. Beijing has therefore issued an orange alert for gale-force winds—the first such activation of this level of warning for these conditions in ten years. The orange alert is China's second-highest level on its four-tier weather warning system.

The Beijing Meteorological Service has labeled the winds as exceptionally powerful, persistent, extensive, and very destructive. On the China Meteorological Administration's wind scale from level 1 to 17, the winds this weekend will likely measure between levels 11 and 13. A level 11 wind can deliver serious damage, while level 12 and beyond is deemed exceptionally destructive.

These strong gusts are also predicted to make dramatic temperature changes. Temperatures, for instance, are predicted to drop by 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) in a single day in Beijing when the storm's peak is reached on Saturday. As a precautionary measure, city officials have suspended construction activities, canceled some train services, closed tourist destinations and public parks, and directed the cancellation of several outdoor and sporting events.

One of the most eagerly anticipated events, the world's first humanoid robot half marathon, has also been rescheduled and will now be held on 19 April. In the meantime, thousands of trees throughout the city have been pruned or reinforced to ensure that they are not brought down by the weight of the winds. Officials have also imposed a forest fire warning, barring outdoor fires categorically as the gusts might easily ignite a blaze.

Social media is awash with responses to the bizarre weather advisories. A notably dramatic notice warned that anyone weighing under 50 kilograms (110 pounds) could be "blown away" in the storm—a tip that took on users' imaginations and attentions on Weibo platforms as well as elsewhere. Others mocked the advisory joking about what and how much they ate. A reader posted, "I am eating so much these days, just for this day." Someone else noted the storm's timing: "This wind is so reasonable, starting on Friday night and finishing up on Sunday, not at all interrupting Monday's work.

The authorities are also advising people to avoid mountainous regions and forests, where the impact of the wind may be even more hazardous. As the strength of the wind is likely to reach its peak on Saturday and then decline gradually by Sunday evening, the officials are asking the residents to take all precautions, keep themselves informed about the latest weather warnings, and stay indoors for their safety.

The extreme and sudden character of this weather phenomenon has brought into focus the exposure of urban infrastructure and public activity to natural power, leading to immediate and rapid response measures in the region. From strengthening city greenery to suspending high-speed transport services, the readiness of the city for such a rare occurrence is now being tested.

As Beijing and the surrounding areas bunker down for the weekend, the hope remains that the combined precautions being taken will limit possible damage and keep millions safe.