China’s capital came to a near standstill on Saturday as powerful typhoon-like winds swept across northern regions, disrupting travel, closing historic landmarks, and bringing unusual spring snow and hail.
Driven by a cold vortex from neighboring Mongolia, the gales caused temperatures to plunge by over 12°C (54°F). The gusts, which began Friday, are forecast to persist through the weekend, reaching speeds of up to 150 kph (93 mph), according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.
In response, Beijing issued its second-highest gale alert—the first of its kind in a decade—urging its 22 million residents to avoid non-essential outings. Meteorologists warned that this wind event could potentially break April records dating back to 1951.
The extreme conditions led to the cancellation of 838 flights across Beijing’s two major airports by late Saturday morning, as tracked by the Flight Master app. Iconic parks and historical sites were temporarily closed, and aging trees were pruned in anticipation of the fierce winds.
Adding to the disruption, a highly anticipated half-marathon, which included humanoid robots running alongside human athletes as a showcase of China’s tech innovation, was postponed due to safety concerns.
Elsewhere, sandstorms stretching from Inner Mongolia down to the Yangtze River region disrupted road travel across eight provinces, according to Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV. Inner Mongolia even reported late snowfalls, while parts of southern China experienced sudden hail showers.
While spring sandstorms are not uncommon in northern China, experts warn that climate change is amplifying the severity and frequency of such extreme weather events.
