A historic blizzard has engulfed Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since Wednesday, causing widespread disruption to transportation and setting unprecedented precipitation records. According to the regional meteorological observatory, 538 weather stations across Xinjiang reported rain or snow by Thursday morning, with 77 experiencing blizzard conditions. Eleven areas, including the regional capital Urumqi and the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, were severely impacted by heavy snowfall. Urumqi recorded 35.6 millimeters of precipitation in a single day, the highest November daily total in the city’s history. Chen Chunyan, chief forecaster at the observatory, highlighted Turgen township in Ili as the epicenter of the storm, with snowfall reaching 40.8 millimeters. The blizzard has forced partial or full closures of major highways, including the G7, G216, and G335, with reopening times uncertain. Railway services were also affected, with the cancellation of a passenger train between Urumqi and Korla. The observatory warns of continued snowfall in the coming days, potentially exacerbating travel safety concerns.