Beijing is bracing for extreme weather as meteorological authorities have issued warnings for strong winds and a significant drop in temperature. The alert, issued late Wednesday, cautions residents to prepare for sustained gales expected to begin Friday afternoon and persist through Sunday.

According to Lei Lei, chief meteorologist at the Beijing Meteorological Service, the impending weather is driven by a powerful cold vortex originating from Mongolia and moving southeast. Mountainous areas are particularly vulnerable, with anticipated gusts reaching 37 to 41.4 meters per second. The strongest winds are predicted to occur on Saturday, accompanied by a sharp temperature decline. Highs are expected to plummet to 14 degrees Celsius, marking a dramatic 13-degree-Celsius decrease within a 24-hour period.

Adding to the concern, the Beijing meteorological authority issued an orange alert for strong winds on Thursday morning – the first city-wide orange alert for strong winds in nearly a decade, according to Beijing News. Lei Lei further elaborated that the winds are forecast to intensify in the western and northern regions around 5 pm on Friday, reaching downtown by 8 pm. Saturday is expected to be the peak of the wind event, with an average wind force of around 6 on the Beaufort scale across the city. Gusts in the plains may range from 9 to 11 on the Beaufort scale, while western and northern regions could experience gusts of 11 to 13. Mountainous areas may encounter localized gusts exceeding 13 on the Beaufort scale, corresponding to a wind speed of 41.4 meters per second.

The severe weather pattern also brings the potential for sandstorms or dust in the air from Friday evening to Saturday, further exacerbating the situation. City officials are taking precautionary measures, including the suspension of organized outdoor sports, gatherings, and outdoor activities for primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and related training institutions. The public is strongly advised to avoid outdoor activities, and outdoor fire use is strictly prohibited. Unnecessary travel is discouraged, and individuals are cautioned against lingering near tall buildings, billboards, temporary structures, or large trees. All outdoor construction work and recreational activities are to be halted.

Yin Yong, mayor of Beijing, chaired a meeting on Wednesday afternoon to coordinate responses to the upcoming severe weather. He emphasized the importance of comprehensive risk assessments and coordinated efforts to ensure public safety during this period of extreme winds and cooling temperatures.