People walk in the wind in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Zhang Ying/Xinhua)
BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A sweeping cold front has brought fierce winds across northern China since Friday evening, prompting widespread weather warnings, transport suspensions and emergency response measures.
The National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Saturday renewed an orange alert for strong gales that are expected to sweep the country's northern and coastal regions over the weekend, warning that winds of up to force 13 (37.0-41.4 meters per second) on the national wind scale will hit parts of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.
China has a four-tier weather-warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
From 5 p.m. Friday to noon on Saturday, 109 weather stations in Beijing recorded gusts above force 10 (24.5-28.4 meters per second), and 296 stations registered winds at or above force 9 (20.8-24.4 meters per second).
Gusts exceeding force 10 were recorded in 13 districts of the national capital, including Haidian, Chaoyang and Fengtai, according to municipal meteorological authorities.
Beijing remains on orange alert for high winds.
Forecasts for noon to 10 p.m. Saturday predict winds ranging between force 9 and force 11 (28.5-32.6 meters per second) citywide, with mountainous areas potentially experiencing gusts above force 13.
To ensure public safety, Beijing has temporarily shut 15 overground railway sections, affecting a total of 106 stations and over 200 kilometers of tracks, including Beijing Subway Capital Airport Express tracks. Numerous parks and museums have been closed, including the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven and Beihai Park, and fueling operations at gas stations and oil depots have been suspended.
As of 10 a.m. Saturday, a total of 288 trees were toppled across the city due to the strong winds, damaging 19 vehicles, according to Beijing's emergency management authorities. There have been no reports of damage to ancient trees.
In Beijing, two airports have cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled for Saturday, and a humanoid-robot half marathon that was set to take place on Sunday has been postponed to April 19.
No injuries or fatalities related to the extreme winds have been reported in Beijing.
In the neighboring Tianjin Municipality, peak gusts of 43.2 meters per second were recorded in Jizhou District's Panshan area -- the strongest winds since records began in 1951.
In the city's urban center, record-high winds reached 25.3 meters per second, and authorities have warned that the extreme conditions are expected to persist through Monday.
Farther northeast, in Liaoning Province's Dalian, local authorities have issued yellow alerts for strong winds that will affect both land and sea areas.
In northern Shanxi Province, the State Grid branch has deployed over 3,000 personnel to inspect and reinforce electrical facilities. Emergency repair teams and mobile generators were positioned across the province in advance to ensure rapid power restoration in the event of outages.
In the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, strong winds have disrupted rail, road and air traffic. Beijing-bound high-speed rail services departing from the region's central and western areas have been temporarily suspended, and airports in cities like Hohhot, Xilinhot and Hulunbuir have canceled dozens of flights due to adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, in central China's Henan Province, extreme winds have triggered a Level-III emergency response and prompted the issuance of over 100 meteorological warnings. Multiple tourist attractions, including the Zhengzhou Fantawild Resort, have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. ■
A volunteer (L) helps a farmer reinforce a watermelon greenhouse in Sanxingzhuang Village of Shangqiu, central China's Henan Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Miao Yucai/Xinhua)
Sanitation workers clean snow in the Greater Khingan Range, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Cheng Hongchun/Xinhua)
A citizen walks amid snow in Huma County, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Chu Fuchao/Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on April 12, 2025 shows fishing ships harboring at a port to shelter from strong gales in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)
Sightseeing boats are temporarily suspended due to strong winds at Beihai Park in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
Two women walk in strong wind in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)
A man walks in strong wind in north China's Tianjin, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
A citizen rides in strong wind as fallen flowers scatter on the grass, in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Liu Hongxia)
A notice posted at Xizhimen Station of Beijing Subway announces the suspension of some rail lines due to strong winds, in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
Farmers reinforce a strawberry greenhouse in the wind in Mengzhuang Town of Zaozhuang, east China's Shandong Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Sun Zhongzhe/Xinhua)
Municipal emergency vehicles stand ready to respond to potential impacts from strong winds in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)
People walk past Beijing zoo that is temporarily closed due to strong winds in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
People visit a market amid snow in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Photo by Wang Yonggang/Xinhua)
A gas station is temporarily closed due to strong winds in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)
A traveler chases after his hat blown away by strong winds on the square in front of Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)
A woman walks on the south square of Beijing West Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)
People walk on a street in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
People walk on a street in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Workers clear fallen branches blown down by strong winds in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)
People walk at Shichahai scenic area in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
People walk at Shichahai scenic area in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
People walk at Shichahai scenic area in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)
Staff members work to clear fallen trees uprooted by strong winds in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, April 12, 2025. Many parts in northern China are experiencing gale-force winds and temperature drops on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
