A significant winter weather system has descended upon northern China, bringing the season’s most extensive snowfall and plunging temperatures. Beijing experienced its first major winter snowstorm on Friday, prompting municipal authorities to implement comprehensive emergency measures across the capital region.
The Beijing Meteorological Service issued critical weather alerts, including an orange warning for icy roads—the second-highest level in the three-tier alert system—and a blue alert for snowstorms. In response to the deteriorating conditions, transportation authorities permitted private vehicles to use bus-only lanes during Friday’s evening rush hour to alleviate traffic congestion.
According to chief forecaster Zhang Linna, snow accumulation reached 2-5 centimeters in urban plains and 5-8 centimeters in mountainous areas. The city’s primary snow-clearing operator, Beijing Huanwei Group, deployed an extensive fleet of 2,520 pieces of equipment, including 1,672 specialized snow-removal vehicles, to maintain road accessibility.
Airports implemented enhanced operational protocols, with Beijing Daxing International Airport mobilizing 300 personnel and 84 snow-removal vehicles. Despite the challenging conditions, both of Beijing’s major airports maintained largely normal flight operations, experiencing only minimal weather-related delays.
The weather system represents the most substantial precipitation event since winter began, affecting multiple regions including Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Liaoning provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Temperature drops exceeding 10 degrees Celsius were recorded across northern regions, with the cold front expected to continue affecting central China in coming days. Meteorological authorities project temperature rebounds beginning Monday as the system moves southward.