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Heavy snowstorms hit Northern China
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Heavy snowstorms hit most of Northern China beginning early Sunday morning. Beijing and Tianjin were particularly affected. Meteorologists say that, in the next few days, Eastern and Southern China will also experience sharp cold spells.
In Beijing, snow accumulation reached more than 10 centimeters on Sunday. The second wave of New Year flurries turned out to be much heavier than Saturday's brisk dusting.
The city's Metrological Bureau has upgraded its snowstorm alert from blue to yellow. Transportation authorities organized nearly 1,000 workers, and hundreds of snow-clearing vehicles, all laboring for more than 12 hours to ensure smooth traffic flow on the national capital's main roads.
Forecasters say that, after the snowstorms, strong winds will blow temperatures in the city down to minus-16-degrees Celsius, hitting a record low mark not seen since the 1980s.
The nearby city of Tianjin has also been blanketed by a thick coating of white stuff.
Cumulative snow levels measured 10 centimeters by Sunday evening. The municipal government has mobilized 100-thousand residents to clear public areas. According to weather predictions, temperatures in the area will plummet to minus-15-degrees starting on Monday.
Northern China's Hebei Province was also affected by the wicked weather. By Sunday afternoon, the city of Zhangjiakou had received nearly 13 millimeters of snow. Meteorologists say thermometer readings there will fall by 14 degrees.
Temperatures in some sections of the province will even see dramatic drops to as low as minus-34-degrees. To prevent heavy damage, the local government has activated an emergency response system.
Meanwhile, China's eastern and southern regions will also feel the effects of a cold front in the next few days. The country's Central Metrological Station has issued an orange alert in anticipation of the coming chill ... warning that certain areas could suffer mercury drops ranging from 8 to 12 degrees Celsius.
