China's worst winter weather in five decades will continue over
the next three days, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA)
told a news conference Wednesday.
Heavy snow?hit Diqing,
Yunnan Province, on January 29, 2008.
The heavy snow and sleet has paralyzed transport and coal
shipments, and led to travelers cramming railways stations and
airports and power supply reductions in almost half of the 31
provinces and regions on the Chinese mainland.
The havoc was chiefly caused by the long-lasting sleet, which
resulted from warm and cold air currents clashing over south China,
said CMA spokesperson Jiao Haiyan.
The CMA was advising people in affected areas to stay home and
reduce energy consumption during the holiday period of the Chinese
Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, she said.
Over the next 10 days, southwestern, eastern and southern China
will embrace more snow and sleet with freezing temperatures while
northern China will stay clear but windy, according to the CMA.
The snow struck as tens of millions of Chinese began to head
home to celebrate the major Chinese holiday starting Feb. 7 this
year, straining rail, air and road transport services as well as
shipping.
Heavy snow?hit Diqing,
Yunnan Province, on January 29, 2008.
Heavy snow?hit Diqing,
Yunnan Province, on January 29, 2008.
(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2008)
