Weather tracker: Contrasts in cold and heat break records in China

China’s Xinjiang region, in the far west of the country, experienced record-breaking low temperatures of -52.3C on 18 February, surpassing a 64-year-old record for the region. The figure was just shy of the lowest national temperature of -53C, which was recorded in the Heilongjiang region in January last year. The extreme weather has caused big disruption after the lunar new year celebrations, with blizzards and ice leaving people stranded on roads and railways. On the same day, Badu in the south of China recorded a maximum temperature of 38C, meaning…

Blizzards disrupt lunar new year travel for millions in China

Millions of people in China have had their annual visit home for lunar new year disrupted by blizzards and freezing rain, with delayed or cancelled transport leaving travellers stranded. Videos on social media showed people hacking away at thick layers of ice that have brought roads to a standstill as millions of people try to get home before spring festival, which starts on 10 February. The festival is China’s busiest travel period; for millions of urban workers, it is their only trip all year to their home towns, where they…

People unable to travel as extreme snow blizzards grip China before new year – video

People were rescued from buildings that collapsed under the weight of snow as extreme weather and blizzards gripped China. Millions of people across the country have been unable to travel in the run-up to the Chinese new year amid severe weather conditions. More than 120 sections of major roads were closed because of heavy snowfall and hundreds of flights have been cancelled The Guardian

Weather tracker: Beijing experiences its coldest December since 1951

The Chinese capital, Beijing, experienced its coldest December since records began in 1951, after a cold wave hit much of the country. Temperatures fell below -10C, alongside heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions at times. Northern and north-eastern parts of China experienced the coldest temperatures, as cold air moved southwards from the Arctic, with some areas reaching lows of -40C. The Beijing weather observatory recorded a period of more than 300 hours in which temperatures remained below freezing, which is the longest for December since records began 72 years ago. The…

News live: Marles will ‘make right decision in Australia’s interest’ over deploying navy vessels to Red Sea, Farrell says

From 5h ago Sarah Basford Canales Marles will ‘make right decision in Australia’s interest’ over deploying navy vessels to Red Sea Earlier this morning, trade minister Don Farrell left open the possibility Australia could deploy navy vessels to the Red Sea amid ongoing attacks against commercial shipping from Iran-backed militia. This week the US asked Australia to send a warship to the region as part of its duties as a member of the international naval security taskforce, the combined maritime forces. It comes as the Yemen-based and Iran-backed Houthis warned…

Weather tracker: first snow of winter in Beijing causes widespread disruption

Heavy snowfall affected China last weekend in regions north of the Yangtze River, with Beijing experiencing its first snow of the season. As a consequence of the snow and ice, more than 180 bus routes were suspended across the city on Monday, with several trains and flights delayed or cancelled. Henan province, south of Beijing, had big falls over the weekend, with many areas recording depths of 100mm and even, in some places, up to 150mm. Shanxi province, to the south-west of Beijing, also saw some wintry conditions, with icy…

Hong Kong’s heaviest rain in at least 139 years triggers widespread flooding after typhoon

Hong Kong reported 158.1mm of rainfall in the space of an hour on Thursday night, the highest since records began in 1884, causing widespread flooding and disrupting road and rail traffic. The record rain, reported in the hour up to midnight on Thursday, comes just days after the city dodged major damage from a super typhoon. Late on Thursday, authorities in the Chinese city said various districts had been flooded and emergency services were conducting rescue operations. Members of the public were instructed to stay in a safe place. “Heavy…

Typhoon Haikui: cars caught up in strong currents of muddy water in China storms – video

Streets flooded in a south-eastern China city after storms from Typhoon Haikui made landfall on Tuesday. Strong currents of muddy water flowed around vehicles stranded on streets in Yongtai county in the coastal province of Fujian, where several areas recorded more than 300mm (1ft) of rainfall in just over 24 hours. The typhoon lost strength and became a tropical storm after its landfall, the national forecaster reported The Guardian

Typhoon Saola leaves trail of destruction in Hong Kong – video report

Typhoon Saola has made landfall in southern China after leaving a trail of destruction in Hong Kong. Thousands of trees were felled and boats sank in the city’s harbour. Nearly 900,000 people had been evacuated in Hong Kong and China while business, transport and schools were suspended in advance of the typhoon making landfall The Guardian

Typhoon Saola makes landfall in southern China as nearly 900,000 evacuated

Typhoon Saola has made landfall in southern China after nearly 900,000 people were moved to safety and most of Hong Kong and other parts of coastal southern China suspended business, transport and schools. Guangdong province’s meteorological bureau said the powerful storm churned into an outlying district of the city of Zhuhai, just south of Hong Kong at 3.30am local time. It was forecast to move in a south-westerly direction along the Guangdong coast at a speed of about 10mph (17km/h), gradually weakening before heading out to sea. China issues highest…