Severe Winds Cancel Hundreds of Flights in China

Strong winds sweeping through Beijing and northern China on Saturday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, the closure of major tourist attractions, and the suspension of rail services.

Authorities advised residents in affected areas to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.

The powerful winds were triggered by a cyclone that formed over Mongolia and moved east and south across northern China, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The storm, which began Friday, is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

The administration warned that some monitoring stations could register wind speeds approaching or exceeding record levels for this time of year, dating back to 1951.

As a result, Beijing issued its first orange wind warning in a decade, the second-highest alert level for severe winds.

By Saturday afternoon, a total of 699 flights had been canceled at Beijing’s two major airports, according to state broadcaster CCTV. High-speed train services were also suspended.

Beijing postponed a half-marathon race scheduled for Sunday, which was set to feature humanoid robots, due to the extreme weather conditions.

The winds uprooted approximately 300 trees across the Chinese capital and caused damage to 19 vehicles. However, no injuries were reported in Beijing.

Last year, severe storms caused widespread flooding across China, resulting in dozens of deaths and the evacuation of thousands. In May, a highway collapse in southern China following days of heavy rainfall killed 48 people.