On Saturday, Beijing’s 22 million residents were advised to stay indoors due to powerful winds sweeping across northern China. This caused the trees to topple, disrupted travel and sports, and led to dust storms throughout the region. The winds in Beijing could be the most powerful in April since 1951, with forecasters linking them to a polar vortex in Mongolia. The temperatures were expected to plummet, and the winds were predicted to reach 83 to 92 miles per hour. Wind and rain hit the region on Friday, and by Saturday morning, over 400 trees had been knocked down and nearly 7,000 people had been evacuated. The state media reported dust storms swirling overnight into Saturday morning. Yang Bobo, a postgraduate student in finance, said the strong winds sounded like ghosts and wolves, and that a glass door at her school caved in. Beijing authorities advised residents to avoid travel, postponed soccer matches, and suspended train and bus services. China Southern Airlines canceled 340 flights due to the wind, and a planned marathon was postponed until the following week. The temperatures in Beijing were expected to reach only 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and strong winds were predicted for nearby provinces and regions. Meteorologists in South Korea and Japan also issued strong wind warnings along the countries’ western coasts, with the winds linked to the same weather system affecting China.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/12/world/asia/china-beijing-wind.html