BEIJING, China - January 4, 2010- A freezing cold front swept over much of northern China on Sunday with snowstorms snarling traffic and air travel, while some of the coldest temperatures in decades were forecast for coming days.
Gale-force winds sweeping down from Siberia could result in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees in the capital today, the Beijing meteorological station said.
Such temperatures are believed to be the coldest in the capital in 40 years.
Yesterday, major highways in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as in the surrounding provinces and regions of Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were closed due to the heavy snowfall.
Beijing Capital Airport said 120 departures had been postponed and 86 flights cancelled from late Saturday until mid-morning yesterday because of heavy snow and poor visibility.
Freezing temperatures have also hit Britain, which is bracing itself for one of the coldest winters in a century.
Parts of Scotland have been under snow for nearly three weeks and temperatures are expected to drop to minus 16 degrees.
Meteorologists predicted the freezing snap will last until at least mid-January, with snow, ice and severe frosts dominating.
The likelihood is that the second half of the month will be even colder.
Gale-force winds sweeping down from Siberia could result in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees in the capital today, the Beijing meteorological station said.
Such temperatures are believed to be the coldest in the capital in 40 years.
Yesterday, major highways in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as in the surrounding provinces and regions of Hebei, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were closed due to the heavy snowfall.
Beijing Capital Airport said 120 departures had been postponed and 86 flights cancelled from late Saturday until mid-morning yesterday because of heavy snow and poor visibility.
Freezing temperatures have also hit Britain, which is bracing itself for one of the coldest winters in a century.
Parts of Scotland have been under snow for nearly three weeks and temperatures are expected to drop to minus 16 degrees.
Meteorologists predicted the freezing snap will last until at least mid-January, with snow, ice and severe frosts dominating.
The likelihood is that the second half of the month will be even colder.