Recently, multiple extreme weather conditions—including a cold wave, blizzards, strong winds, and sandstorms—have struck northern China simultaneously.(Video screenshot)
[People News]Beginning February 21, a powerful cold air mass swept across northern China, bringing multiple extreme weather events at once. Cold waves, blizzards, strong winds, and sandstorms struck simultaneously. In many areas, yellow sand filled the skies. Tourists were knocked down by strong winds, numerous scenic sites were urgently closed, and flights were delayed.
According to The Dajiyuan, on the night of February 21 the Central Meteorological Observatory continued issuing warnings for cold waves, strong winds, sandstorms, and blizzards. Under the influence of the cold air, temperatures across large parts of northern China dropped sharply.
From the night of the 21st to the 22nd, temperatures in most of Inner Mongolia, northern Northwest China, most of Northeast China, most of North China, and eastern Huanghuai were expected to fall by 6–10°C. In parts of eastern Inner Mongolia, southern Heilongjiang, most of Jilin, and northeastern Liaoning, temperature drops of 12–14°C were forecast, with some areas experiencing declines exceeding 14°C.
Eastern Inner Mongolia and much of Northeast China experienced rain and snow. Parts of northeastern Inner Mongolia, central-western Heilongjiang, western Jilin, and western northern Xinjiang saw heavy to severe snow, with localized blizzards in western Heilongjiang.
Strongest Sandstorm of the Year Hits Multiple Northern Regions
Alongside the sharp temperature drop brought by the cold wave, widespread strong winds also arrived.
From the evening of February 21 to the 22nd, parts of Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, eastern Xinjiang, northern Tibet, northern Ningxia, most of North China, northern and eastern Shandong, and central Henan experienced winds of force 5–7, with gusts reaching force 8–10 and locally exceeding force 11.
The strong winds also brought the largest and most intense sandstorm so far this year.
As of 2 p.m. on the 21st, the eastern edge of the sandstorm had advanced to Zhangjiakou and Shijiazhuang in western Hebei. Its southern edge reached Lanzhou and Dingxi in Gansu; Baoji and Xi’an in Shaanxi; and Linfen and Jinzhong in Shanxi.
Sandstorms and severe sandstorms occurred in parts of western Inner Mongolia. Blowing sand or floating dust was reported in eastern and southern Xinjiang, central and western Inner Mongolia, northeastern Qinghai, central Gansu, Ningxia, most of Shaanxi, Shanxi, most of Liaoning, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, northern Hunan, and northern Zhejiang.
Orange Wind Warning in Shanxi; Hengshan Engulfed by “Wall of Sand”
Affected by extreme weather, wind strength increased significantly in many parts of Shanxi Province. On the morning of the 21st, the Shanxi Meteorological Observatory upgraded its wind warning to yellow. In Datong, Shuozhou, Xinzhou, Lüliang, Taiyuan, Yangquan, Jinzhong, Changzhi, and Jincheng, average wind speeds reached force 5–7, with gusts exceeding force 9.
At noon on the 21st, the Datong Meteorological Observatory upgraded the wind warning to orange. Average wind speeds across the city reached force 6–8, with gusts of force 10–11 or higher.
That day, obvious blowing sand was seen at the Hengshan Scenic Area in Hunyuan County, Datong. On-site footage showed yellow sand sweeping in like a wall from the horizon, instantly enveloping mountains and buildings, sharply reducing visibility. At the foot of Hengshan, winds were fierce. Some tourists, caught off guard, staggered backward or were knocked to the ground, with sand and gravel striking their faces painfully.
A visitor touring the Hanging Temple in Shanxi said the weather had already turned gloomy in the morning. Around 2 p.m., while descending the mountain, they encountered strong winds. Video footage showed sand filling the air at the mountain’s base, stalls blown by gusts, and vendors urgently securing their goods to prevent them from being swept away.
Scenic Areas Closed, Events Canceled
In response to the extreme weather, multiple scenic areas implemented emergency closures. At noon on the 21st, Hengshan Scenic Area announced a suspension of ticket sales. The planned “Fifth Day of the Lunar New Year Float Parade” in Datong Ancient City was temporarily canceled, and venues such as the Ancient Capital Lantern Festival and ski resorts were also temporarily closed.
In addition to Datong, Zangshan Scenic Area in Yangquan and the ice sculpture exhibition area of Laoniuwan Scenic Area in Pianguan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi, also announced temporary closures.
In Hebei, the Zhengding Ancient City Lantern Festival in Shijiazhuang was suspended for one day, and scenic spots such as Baoduzhai and Huangjinzhai halted operations.
In Beijing, the Lugou Bridge Scenic Area, Wanping City Wall, and Beijing World Park were temporarily closed on the 21st. Yanqi Lake Scenic Area delayed opening until noon on the 22nd.
Flight Delays Disrupt Airport Operations
Due to the extreme weather, multiple flights at airports in Beijing, Datong, Shijiazhuang, and other cities were delayed.
According to information from the Flight Master app, the impact at Datong Yungang Airport in Shanxi was particularly severe. On the 21st, nearly all daytime flights were delayed by seven to eight hours, with departures postponed until evening.
On the afternoon of the 21st, many flights at Hohhot Baita Airport were canceled outright, and several evening flights were delayed.
As of 9 p.m. on the 21st, Beijing Capital International Airport reported that 5% of flights were delayed by more than 30 minutes due to severe weather.
Meteorological authorities forecast that strong winds, temperature drops, and sandstorms will persist across northern China over the next two days. △
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