At 11:30 a.m. today (April 13), Guangzhou issued a yellow alert as a sandstorm from northern China caused a significant rise in PM10 particle concentration. Visibility in the Yuexiu and Tianhe districts dropped below 10 kilometers.
(Photo: Southcn.com)
As of 9:00 a.m., air pollution was reported across all 21 cities in Guangdong, and residents are advised to stay indoors and wear masks to minimize exposure. The pollution levels are as follows:
- Light pollution: Meizhou, Jieyang, Chaozhou, Shantou, Shanwei
- Moderate pollution: Yunfu, Zhaoqing, Zhanjiang, Maoming, Shenzhen
- Heavy pollution: Huizhou, Zhuhai, Yangjiang, Dongguan, Heyuan, Qingyuan, Shaoguan, Jiangmen, Foshan, Zhongshan
- Severe pollution: Guangzhou
(Photo: Southcn.com)
This rare sandstorm, driven by strong winds, has moved southward faster than usual due to deep upper-level troughs and powerful upward motion, carrying the dust further than expected.
From 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, winds of up to force 11 (28.5-32.6 meters per second) will impact parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province, Hebei Province, and Beijing, all located in northern China, according to the National Meteorological Center. Sandstorms will continue to affect various regions during this period, as noted in a blue alert that was also renewed on April 13.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.
Source: GDToday, Xinhua
Author: Huang Xinying
Editor: Huang Qini, Shen He
