Extreme weather conditions persist in Central and East China, prompting the issuance of four warnings by China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Sunday. Strong winds, freezing temperatures, blizzards, and dense fog have led to disruptions in transportation, leaving a significant number of Spring Festival travelers stranded. Local authorities are actively implementing measures to address the challenges posed by the extreme weather.
Blizzards are expected to concentrate in central and eastern China, including parts of Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shandong, with anticipated snowfall of 10 to 13 centimeters. Freezing weather will affect a broader range of provinces in East China, Central China, and Southwest China, while dense fog is predicted in South China.
Hubei Province experienced heavy snowfall, with the provincial capital Wuhan witnessing blizzard conditions. The snowfall has impacted urban transportation, causing delays in train departures and affecting logistics services. Wuhan Tianhe Airport’s runways were closed, leading to the suspension of some trains and temporary closures of highway entrances. The transportation issues in Wuhan, a crucial hub, have significantly affected passengers during the peak Spring Festival travel period.
More than 50 pairs of trains within Hubei have been suspended due to rain, snow, and freezing weather. Over 22 pairs of overnight high-speed trains between Hubei cities and Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai were also affected. Stranded passengers at Wuhan’s high-speed railway station are experiencing extensive delays, with some lasting up to 11 hours.
The extreme weather has resulted in the closure of 1,665 toll stations nationwide due to snowfall and icy road conditions. Multiple airports in Hubei and Anhui provinces, including Wuhan, Yichang, Shiyan, Hefei, and Anqing, have experienced flight cancellations and delays.
Railway travel from north to south and vice versa has been restricted, affecting high-speed trains departing from Beijing to Shanghai, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other eastern regions. The railway department urges passengers to monitor schedules closely and avoid unnecessary travel.
In response to the severe cold weather, Wuhan’s railway bureau has deployed personnel for snow removal and de-icing, with standby locomotives and increased ticket refund and exchange windows. Stations such as Shanghai and Guangzhou have announced the opening of waiting rooms at night for stranded passengers.
As the 2024 Spring Festival travel rush enters its 10th day, transportation authorities emphasize the stability and orderliness of overall transportation operations. The weather forecast indicates that low temperatures in Central and East China will persist in the coming week, with some areas experiencing temperatures 6 to 10 degrees Celsius lower than usual for nearly a week.