Cities across northern China experienced historically low temperatures, setting records in provinces and regions such as Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia. The national weather office reported subzero conditions, including a remarkable drop to -33.2 degrees Celsius in Datong, Shanxi, and -27 degrees Celsius in Yangqu.
Other areas also saw record lows, including -29.7 degrees Celsius in Qingshuihe, Inner Mongolia, -23.3 degrees Celsius in Baoding, Hebei, and -22 degrees Celsius in Shunping, Hebei.
These extreme temperatures prompted authorities to issue a three-day cold alert across a significant portion of northern, eastern, and southeastern China. The cold wave follows an impactful summer marked by record heat and severe floods in the northern regions.
Experts emphasize the connection between these extreme weather events and the impact of global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions. In Gansu province, where a recent earthquake caused over 130 deaths, survivors grappled with freezing conditions, further exacerbating the challenges faced by those affected by the seismic event.
