Beijing has broken a seven-decade cold-weather record as a cold wave engulfs China. The capital city recorded its longest cold wave since records began in 1951, with temperatures plummeting to historic lows. The cold wave has affected large parts of the country, bringing blizzards and biting cold air from the Arctic.
According to state media Beijing Daily, the temperature in Beijing rose above zero degrees Celsius on Sunday afternoon for the first time in days, after remaining below freezing for over 300 hours since December 11. In the northern and northeastern parts of China, temperatures dropped as low as minus 40 Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit).
The severity of the cold wave has put a strain on the heating capacity of some cities in northern China. In the central province of Henan, several cities, including Jiaozuo, are facing a winter heating supply crunch. JiaoZuo WanFang Aluminum Manufacturing, one of the major suppliers in the city, experienced boiler breakdowns, leaving areas in urgent need of additional heat supply. The supplier is working to fix the malfunction and expects to resume supply on December 26.
Henan province has also seen multiple system failures, including a malfunction at the Wanfang power plant in Jiaozuo that led to partial heating halts. The cities of Puyang and Pingdingshan have cut heating to most government buildings and state-owned enterprises to prioritize limited resources for hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.
The bitter cold has not only caused heating challenges but has also hampered rescue efforts in northwest Gansu province following a deadly earthquake earlier this month.
As temperatures continue to drop, the central province’s weather authority has warned of sub-zero temperatures in Jiaozuo, Puyang, and Pingdingshan, with other areas in Henan reaching lows of minus 15 C (5 F) over the weekend.
The cold wave sweeping across China highlights the need for residents and authorities to take necessary precautions to endure the extreme weather conditions and ensure the well-being of the population.
It remains crucial for individuals to stay warm and safe during this prolonged period of bone-chilling coldness.
