Winter Seemingly Delayed as Beijing Experiences Warm Smog
In an unexpected turn of events, winter in Beijing is projected to arrive late and abruptly this year. Daytime temperatures have been lingering above 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), enveloping the capital in a cozy smog while other regions of China revel in record highs surpassing 30C.
According to a report from state-run Beijing Daily, the official commencement of winter in Beijing could be delayed until November 6, nearly a week behind previous years. Average temperatures are anticipated to plummet by more than 10C.
Surprisingly, many areas in China have continued to experience stubbornly warm weather well into November. Cities in eastern and central provinces like Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Henan are still recording temperatures surpassing 30C.
The official Xinhua news agency reports that as of 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Wednesday, over 600 meteorological stations across China have recorded temperatures breaking historical November highs.
Last month, Beijing observed its second-warmest October in over six decades. In the final 10 days of the month, temperatures deviated by an average of 3.4C higher than normal, marking a record for that period since 1961.
Accompanying the warm weather is the smog that has descended upon Beijing and its surrounding areas for several days.
China’s National Meteorological Center predicts that heavy and dense fog will persist for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday, enveloping regions including Beijing and surrounding cities. In some parts of Hebei province, visibility is expected to drop below 200 meters.
Experts cited in state media attribute the recent “unusual” summer-like weather to weakened cold air currents, which have also perpetuated persistent hazy conditions and heavy air pollution in the city.
Over the upcoming days, temperatures in northern China are predicted to sharply decline. Northeastern cities like Shenyang, Changchun, and Harbin will witness a drastic drop of over 15C.
Similarly, Beijing, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Xian, and Shijiazhuang can anticipate a sudden temperature decline of 10C to 15C.
(Reporting by Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, and Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
