Beijing's Weekend Windstorm: A City on Pause

Beijing faced a powerful windstorm this weekend. The winds were so strong that they forced the city to a standstill. The winds were the strongest the city has seen in over 50 years. The winds were so strong that they were measured at level 11 to 13 on China's wind scale. This scale goes from 1 to 17, with 17 being the strongest. A level 11 wind can cause serious damage, while a level 12 wind can cause extreme destruction. The winds were so strong that they caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled. By Saturday morning, 838 flights had been cancelled at the city's two main airports. Train services were also suspended, including the airport's express subway line and some high-speed rail lines. Parks were closed, and some old trees were reinforced or trimmed in preparation. However, almost 300 trees had already fallen over in the capital. The winds were so strong that they damaged some vehicles, but thankfully, no injuries were reported. The city's residents were advised to stay indoors. Most residents followed this advice. A local resident said, "Everyone in Beijing was really nervous about it. Today there are hardly any people out on the streets. However, it wasn't as severe as I had imagined. "A businessman from the Zhejiang province had his flight home cancelled. He said, "Because of the severe winds, all flights scheduled for last night and today were cancelled. So I will probably rebook my flight in a couple of days. I'm now basically stranded in Beijing. " The winds were caused by a cold vortex system over Mongolia. This system is expected to last through the weekend. The city issued its first orange alert for strong winds in a decade. The strongest winds were expected on Saturday. Conditions were expected to ease by Sunday. The winds were so strong that some state media outlets warned that people weighing less than 50kg may be "easily blown away. "This warning was meant to urge people to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel. The windstorm had a significant impact on the city. It caused disruptions to transportation and closed attractions and historic sites. However, the city's residents showed resilience and followed the authorities' advice to stay indoors. The windstorm is a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of being prepared. It is also a testament to the city's ability to adapt and overcome challenges.