China's meteorological authority on Thursday issued a yellow alert for strong winds and a blue alert for sandstorms, warning of significant weather disruptions across the country.From Friday to Sunday, an approaching cold front is expected to bring rare sustained strong winds to northern regions, severe hailstorms to southern areas, and sandstorms to northwest China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the country's north, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.Beijing's meteorological authorities issued a weather alert late on Wednesday, warning residents of extreme winds and cooling temperatures from Friday afternoon to Sunday.The capital is bracing for sustained gales, with mountainous areas likely to face gusts of 37 to 41.4 meters per second, driven by a powerful cold vortex moving southeast from Mongolia.The strongest winds will hit on Saturday, with temperature highs dropping to 14 degrees Celsius a 13-degree-Celsius decrease in temperature within a 24-hour period.According to the latest forecast, from April 11 to 13, northern China will experience rare and sustained strong winds due to the influence of a powerful cold air mass.Temperatures in central and eastern China are forecast to drop by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius from Friday to Saturday, while southern regions will likely experience moderate to heavy rainfall.Outdoor construction, school activities and public events will be suspended.
Residents are advised to reduce unnecessary travel, avoid outdoor activities, reinforce temporary structures such as billboards, and take precautions for vulnerable populations.Transportation departments should be prepared for potential impacts, and agricultural sectors should strengthen windproofing for greenhouses and livestock shelters.China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.(Cover: Peach blossoms along the Great Wall in Beijing, China.
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