Northern China will see strong winds this weekend. Millions of people are advised to stay indoors, outdoor events have been canceled amid the strong winds that some state media outlets have warned people under 50 kg weighing could "easily get blown away".
Winds of up to 150 km/h are forecast to sweep through Beijing, Tianjin and other areas of Hebei province until April 13 as a strong cold air mass moves from Mongolia to the southeast.
The BBC noted that this is the first time in a decade that Beijing has issued an orange warning for gusts of wind, the second highest warning level in the 4-level weather warning system in China.
Strong winds blowing from Mongolia are not unusual, especially at this time of year. However, the winds this weekend are forecast to be stronger than any that has occurred in the area in recent years, the bulletin emphasized.
temperatures in Beijing are forecast to drop by 13 degrees Celsius within 24 hours as the strongest winds reach April 12.
"This strong wind is very strong, lasting for a long time, affecting a large area and causing great disaster" - the Beijing Meteorological Administration warned.
China measures wind speed on a scale of 1 to 17. According to the China Meteorological Administration, winds of level 11 could cause "serious damage," while winds of level 12 could cause "extreme devastation".
Winds in China are expected to range from level 11 to level 13 this weekend.
Several sporting events scheduled to be held this weekend have been postponed, including the world's first half-marathon using a robot, which will be moved to April 19.
Parks and tourist attractions have been closed as authorities have asked residents to avoid outdoor activities. Railway construction and service works have also been suspended in the context of strong winds. Thousands of trees across Beijing have been reinforced or trimmed to prevent breaking and falling.
Local authorities have warned people to avoid going into mountainous areas during this time because these are areas with strong gusts of wind.
Many social media users in China have shared about the postponement of weekend plans due to unusually strong winds. "This storm is a known thing, blowing from Friday night to Sunday, not interrupting work on Monday" - a Weibo user humorously shared.
hashtags about strong winds and warnings that people under 50 kg could be blown away have become a popular topic on social media in China. A Weibo user joked: "I always eat a lot, just wait until this day."
China's weather forecasters said the winds are expected to start weakening from the night of April 13.
