Brace Yourself, Beijing: More Snow is Coming!

As of 11am today, Dec 13, Beijing is bracing itself for a significant snowstorm, according to Beijing Daily, who cite the city's meteorological bureau as predicting that the heaviest snowfall, ranging from "heavy snow" to "blizzard conditions", will occur from today until the morning of Dec 15. The most intense snowfall is expected between 10am and 8pm today, with areas like Yanqing, Changping, Mentougou, Fangshan, Huairou, Haidian, Shijingshan, Fengtai, Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Daxing, and Tongzhou expected to receive more than 10mm of snow. 

But the winter weather doesn't stop there. 

The snow is accompanied by a new cold wave, which is expected to sweep across most of China from Dec 14 to Dec 16, causing temperatures in central and eastern cities, including Beijing, to plummet by 8 to 12 degrees Celcius. This means Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei will soon be in deep freeze mode, so residents are advised to bundle up in their warmest clothes.

This bout of snowfall is expected to exacerbate traffic congestion and increase the risk of accidents, particularly during peak hours over the next couple of days. Major roads within the fifth ring road may face significant traffic pressure, and some highways might temporarily close due to snow, ice, and low visibility.

In response to the weather, traffic control departments have initiated ice and snow clearing measures to minimize disruptions. Additionally, the Beijing Subway plans to add extra services from Dec 13 to Dec 15, even starting 30 minutes earlier. Fifteen lines (excluding the Capital Airport Line and Line 11) will offer additional services during peak hours, with an estimated 90 extra trains in operation.

The weather bureau cautions that this long-lasting snowfall and the currently active orange warning for heavy snow and yellow warning for road ice necessitate extra care for cold protection and traffic safety. The public is advised to reduce travel, use public transport, and avoid areas prone to snow hazards. Schools are implementing remote learning, and employees are encouraged to stagger their commute times and adopt flexible working arrangements. Snow accumulation on structures like school gyms, greenhouses, temporary structures, and hazardous buildings should be promptly cleared to prevent collapse.

READ: China Travel News You Might Have Missed, Dec 12

Images: Unsplash, Uni You