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• Thu Apr 17 2025

Northern China is bracing for extreme winds after rare orange alert was issued in Beijing

Schools have been closed, public events suspended, and millions urged to stay indoors over safety fears

Strong gusts of up to 150kph prompted warnings that lightweight individuals could be blown away

TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

Authorities in Northern China issued sweeping safety measures as the region braces for one of its strongest windstorms in years.

China has warned of strong winds. Images of a boy clinching on tree as wind threatens to blow him away, a woman covering her faces (for illustration only). Photos: John Giles, Catherine Falls.

Source: Getty Images

Residents in Beijing, Tianjin, and parts of the Hebei province were told to stay indoors, with schools closed, events cancelled, and public spaces shut ahead of the powerful gusts expected from Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20.

Winds of up to 150kph (93mph) were forecasted, triggered by a cold air mass sweeping in from Mongolia.

For the first time in a decade, Beijing raised an orange alert for gales ? the second-highest in its four-tier warning system.

The Beijing Meteorological Service described the incoming storm as "extreme, long-lasting, widespread, and highly destructive," as reported by BBC.

China?s weather authority projected that the storm would bring winds ranging between levels 11 and 13 on its 17-tier wind scale, levels capable of causing serious to extreme destruction.

In response, city officials suspended construction activities, halted train services, and shut down parks and major tourist attractions.

Several events have been cancelled and postponed, including the world?s first humanoid robot half marathon, now pushed to April 19.

Thousands of trees across Beijing have been pruned or reinforced to prevent damage, and people were strongly advised to stay away from mountainous and forested areas where gusts were expected to be especially intense.

Residents weighing under 50kgs told to stay indoors

As a precautionary measure, authorities have urged residents to stay indoors, with individuals weighing below 50 kilogrammes risking being blown away by the strong winds.

In the days before the storm hit, residents hurried to buy basic supplies, leaving supermarket shelves almost empty. Despite the panic buying, authorities assured the public that there were no anticipated shortages and that prices were stable.

Temperatures in Beijing are also expected to plummet by 13?C within a 24-hour window at the height of the storm.

Authorities issued a fire risk alert and banned all outdoor fires due to the high risk of forest fires. The winds are expected to weaken by Sunday night.

Source: TUKO.co.ke