Severe winds sweep through Beijing, cancelling hundreds of flights and forcing millions to stay indoors.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at Beijing‘s two major airports due to strong winds. By 11:30 local time on Saturday, 838 flights had been cancelled.
Beijing Capital International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Asia, experiences frequent disruptions due to various reasons.
Weather conditions, such as heavy snow or fog, are a major cause of flight delays and cancellations.
Additionally, air traffic congestion and technical issues with aircraft can also lead to disruptions.
According to a study, Beijing airport experiences an average of 15 flight delays per day.
The airport's expansion plans aim to reduce congestion and improve efficiency.
Millions were urged to stay indoors on Friday, with some state media outlets warning that people weighing less than 50kg may be ‘easily blown away‘. Residents followed authorities’ advice to stay indoors after the city warned 22 million residents to avoid non-essential travel. A local resident noted, ‘Everyone in Beijing was really nervous about it. Today there are hardly any people out on the streets.‘
Beijing, China experiences a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons.
The city is prone to severe weather conditions, including sandstorms, heavy rainfall, and extreme temperatures.
The Beijing Meteorological Bureau issues weather warnings to alert residents of impending severe weather.
These warnings are categorized into three levels: yellow, orange, and red, indicating the severity of the weather.
Yellow warnings indicate a moderate risk, while orange and red warnings signify a high or extremely high risk, respectively.
Train services, including the airport’s express subway line and some high-speed rail lines, have been suspended. Parks were also shut, with some old trees reinforced or trimmed but almost 300 trees have already fallen over in the capital. A businessman from the Zhejiang province had his flight home cancelled due to the severe winds, stating, ‘Because of the severe winds, all flights scheduled for last night and today were cancelled.‘
Beijing, China's capital city, experiences frequent transportation disruptions due to its massive population and infrastructure demands.
Major causes include construction works on the subway system, road closures for maintenance or events, and air quality alerts leading to traffic restrictions.
According to a 2020 survey, 62% of respondents cited traffic congestion as their top concern, with 45% experiencing delays during peak hours.
To mitigate these issues, the Beijing Municipal Government has implemented measures such as optimizing traffic light timing and promoting alternative modes like cycling or carpooling.
The strong winds are coming from a cold vortex system over Mongolia and are expected to last through the weekend. Beijing issued its first orange alert for strong winds in a decade with the strongest winds expected on Saturday. China measures wind speed with a scale that goes from level 1 to 17. A level 11 wind can cause ‘serious damage‘, while a level 12 wind brings ‘extreme destruction‘. The winds this weekend are expected to range from level 11 to 13, with conditions expected to ease by Sunday.
The strong winds are originating from a cold vortex system over Mongolia.
