China's weather authority has issued warnings Tuesday morning for a strong cold wave and heavy blizzards, saying heavy snowfall would affect provinces such as Henan, Anhui, Shandong and Hebei in northern and eastern China. In some mountainous areas, snow was estimated to be more than four inches deep.
Meanwhile, in dramatic contrast, southern China's Guangdong province has seen sweltering temperatures of over 20 degrees Celsius on average this month, breaking its historical record. In some areas, the temperature has even topped 30 degrees, reaching the same levels as in summer time.
Thousands are attracted as the first snow of this year blanketed the Chinese capital this week. But this beautiful white snow is not as innocent as it appears.
Drone footage captured this scene in central China's Henan province, as traffic jams lined up for miles and pedestrians struggled because the snowstorm.
Buses stranded, roads disappeared and traffic turned treacherous. In Hebei, traffic authorities have closed a number of expressways to Beijing. Ships from Shandong to Liaoning have been suspended since Monday.
To ensure safe traffic on major roads in cities, sprinklers loaded with more than 1,800 tons of snow-dissolving agents have been sent out. As people in the north are finding shelter from the snow, people in south are hiding from the scorching sun.
Experts say El Nino, irregular changes to the world climate caused by surface variations in the Pacific Ocean, has contributed to this extreme weather. And it is still becoming stronger.
"This El Nino pattern will reach its peak from November to December, and it will last until the spring next year. Under its effect, this year's rain season was the latest to arrive in 37 years. And Guangdong's average temperature this year marks the highest since 1953," said Wu Hongyu of Guangdong Climate Center.
Wu also said El Nino has raised the occurrence of extreme weather. The weather authority also warned people to prevent secondary disasters from this extreme weather, such as floods and landslides.
