Snowstorms in Northern China Disrupt Flights and Close Schools

Northeast China has experienced unusually cold weather for this time of year and snowstorms today, leading to the rescheduling of hundreds of flights and the closure of schools. Several cities issued strict weather warnings and advised residents to stay indoors. As of 10:30 AM local time (02:30 GMT), 405 flights had been canceled at Harbin Taiping International Airport in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in the far north of the country, according to data from the travel app Flight Master. Earlier, Heilongjiang provincial government stated that other operations at the airport were running normally. The government mentioned via its official WeChat account that most areas in Harbin city had suspended activities in elementary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and training centers outside educational institutions due to the snowfall and dropping temperatures to freezing levels. State media reported that the China Meteorological Administration warned of a sharp drop in temperatures in the coming days, alongside snowstorms that are expected to significantly affect several cities. The cold has forced authorities in Beijing and Tianjin to take preparations to provide heating measures earlier than usual, according to notices from authorities in both cities. The Central Meteorological Administration stated this week that most areas in Northeast China are expected to see temperatures drop to below 10 degrees Celsius or below freezing as the cold air moves east and south.