China Braces for Intense Cold Spell During Spring Festival Travel Rush

China Braces for Intense Cold Spell During Spring Festival Travel Rush

China is preparing for its most intense cold spell of the winter, with temperatures expected to plummet by as much as 20 degrees Celsius in some areas from Thursday to Monday. The meteorological administration warns that this cold wave coincides with the Spring Festival travel rush, potentially affecting transportation.

The cold wave will move from west to east, starting in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Thursday before sweeping through northwestern regions on Friday. It is expected to hit central and eastern areas over the weekend and reach northeastern and southern parts of the country by Monday.

Temperatures in most areas will drop by 8 to 12 degrees Celsius, with some regions, including Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, seeing decreases of up to 20 degrees Celsius. From Saturday to Tuesday, temperatures in Northwest and North China will hit new winter lows. The eastern part of Northwest China and the central-western part of North China are expected to be the hardest hit, with some areas seeing drops exceeding 14 degrees Celsius.

Snowfall on Thursday will mainly affect northern Xinjiang, while snow is forecast for the eastern parts of Northwest China and North China from Friday to Saturday. Snow will continue in Northeast China on Sunday and Monday.

The meteorological administration urges drivers to reduce speeds and increase following distances when driving in wet and snowy conditions.

Meanwhile, a senior forecaster said on Sunday that the winter will be increasingly characterized by extreme temperature swings, including sudden cold spells. While this winter has felt relatively mild so far, it remains uncertain whether it will officially qualify as a warm winter.

Temperatures in 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, were all above normal. Eastern Xinjiang, eastern Inner Mongolia, central and eastern Hunan, and southern Hubei saw temperatures more than 2 degrees Celsius higher than usual, with some areas exceeding 4 degrees Celsius above average.

The milder temperatures are attributed to weaker cold air masses. As these air masses moved southeast, they warmed gradually under sunlight, resulting in shorter and less intense cold spells in central and eastern regions. The lack of strong winds and precipitation also reduced wind chill and damp cold effects, making temperatures feel closer to actual readings.

Despite the mild start to winter, periods of cold weather remain likely. Whether this winter will be classified as warm depends on the average temperature from December to February being 0.5 degrees Celsius higher than normal. Even in a warm winter, there can be sharp temperature drops and cold spells.