BEIJING: As temperatures dropped sharply in the south and Beijing shivered in the snow, severe weather warnings were issued for large portions of the country on Wednesday.
In the south, where average temperatures are currently at zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities have issued a new orange alert, the highest in the nation’s three-tier system, cautioning that they could drop by six to twelve degrees Celsius by Friday.
Temperatures may drop by more than 20 degrees Celsius in some places, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) stated on social media. According to state news agency Xinhua, the NMC “called for adequate steps to safeguard crops and aquatic products, advised citizens to keep warm, and called on municipal governments to take safety measures against the cold weather.”
After an overnight snowfall, Beijing’s citizens awakened to find their city covered in white, as the temperature hovered near freezing on Wednesday. On the city’s roadways, traffic slowed to a crawl, while commuters and bicycles found the snow-dusted pavements dangerous.
Up to 4.1 centimeters (1.6 inches) of snowfall has fallen in certain suburban regions, according to municipal authorities, who also issued an advisory about slick roadways.
The municipal government posted a statement online on Tuesday night saying, “It is advised that residents… stagger when they travel, use public transportation such as buses and trains, drive their personal cars slowly and give attention to safety.”
Some dressed in traditional costumes braved the chilly weather to explore the famous Forbidden City in the capital, where they were mesmerized by the beautiful snowfall.
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
