Blizzards Hit Northeast China Flights were rescheduled and Schools closed

Unexpected Cold Weather and Blizzards Hit Northeast China

BEIJING, Nov 7: An unseasonable cold snap and heavy snowfall have affected several cities in northeastern China, prompting school closures and flight delays. This unexpected winter weather has led to heightened alerts in some areas, with residents being advised to remain indoors for their safety.

With snow accumulation of up to 25 centimeters (nearly 10 inches), more than 90% of expressway entrances in Jilin province have been closed as of 7 p.m. (1100 GMT), as reported by state television CCTV. In Heilongjiang, the northernmost province of the country, the local railway operator halted 51 passenger train lines due to safety concerns.

In Heilongjiang’s Jiamusi city, a gymnasium collapsed, trapping three individuals inside. There were children present at the venue during the incident, though it remains unclear whether the collapse was directly related to the snowfall. A rescue operation is currently underway to assist those trapped.

As a result of the adverse weather conditions, many schools, kindergartens, and off-campus training institutions in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, have been closed. China’s national weather forecaster has issued an orange blizzard alert, the second-highest tier of its color-coded warning system, anticipating further snowfall in parts of Jilin and Heilongjiang on Monday night through Tuesday.

Earlier, 405 flights were canceled at Harbin Taiping International Airport, along with numerous flight cancellations in Jilin, Liaoning provinces, and the Inner Mongolia region. Video footage captured travelers stranded at a railway station in Jilin’s Changchun city as heavy snowfall impacted the region.

China’s weather authority has warned of a significant temperature drop in the coming days, along with ongoing blizzards. Provinces and cities have upgraded their weather response protocols in anticipation of heavy snowfall, including parts of Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces.

In response to the unusual cold snap, governments in Beijing and Tianjin have made preparations to provide heating services earlier than usual to ensure the comfort and safety of residents. Over the past week, northern China has experienced extreme weather fluctuations, from smog to experiencing the second-warmest October in decades, followed by a sudden drop in temperatures over the weekend.

The Central Meteorological Administration has forecasted that most of the northeast will see temperatures plunge to single digits or below freezing this week as cold air moves east and south, leaving residents grappling with frigid conditions and slippery streets.