Temperatures Plummet to Minus 52.3°C as Xinjiang Faces Severe Winter Conditions
As China grapples with a brutal cold spell following the Lunar New Year holiday, the far western region of Xinjiang is experiencing its coldest weather in over six decades, with temperatures plummeting to a bone-chilling minus 52.3 degrees Celsius (minus 63.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Here’s an overview of the situation:
Historic Cold Snap:
Xinjiang’s Tuerhong township, located in Fuyun county, witnessed a record-breaking low temperature on Sunday, marking the coldest weather recorded in the region since records began. The frigid temperature surpassed the previous record set 64 years ago, highlighting the severity of the current cold spell.
Widespread Disruptions:
The extreme cold has led to widespread disruptions in transportation, with blizzards and icy conditions stranding travelers on railways and roads. In Altay, an area in Xinjiang, 853 kilometers (530 miles) of roads have been affected, prompting authorities to deploy vehicles and rescuers to clear snow and restore accessibility.
Nationwide Impact:
The freezing weather isn’t confined to Xinjiang alone. Several regions across China, including Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, have closed multiple sections of road and toll stations due to hazardous conditions. National weather authorities have issued warnings for drastic temperature drops, with the cold snap expected to persist until Thursday.
Severe Weather Outlook:
The most severely affected areas, including parts of Inner Mongolia, northeastern China, and central provinces like Hubei and Hunan, are bracing for further plunges in temperature. The extreme weather conditions pose significant challenges to residents and authorities alike, necessitating proactive measures to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.
Continued Weather Extremes:
China has experienced a series of extreme weather events over the past year, ranging from sandstorms and torrential rain to searing heatwaves and typhoons. The current cold spell adds to the diverse array of weather challenges facing the nation, underscoring the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of climate variability.
As Xinjiang battles one of its harshest cold spells in history, authorities and residents are working together to navigate the challenging conditions and mitigate the impact of the extreme weather on daily life.
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Credit: Qiaoyi Li and Bernard Orr