Big chill threatens to linger a while

• Source: Global Times
• [03:00 November 11 2009]
• Comments

By Zhang Lei

The sudden cold weather that brought heavy snow and strong winds is expected to linger across northern and central China for at least three more days, meteorologists said Tuesday.

"The sudden rain and snowfall were caused by the interaction between cold air and warm airflow," said He Lifu, chief forecaster at the Central Meteorological Station (CMS).

Poor weather conditions hit several regions of China and resulted in several deaths.

Torrential rain and hail hit Jiangxi and Hubei provinces Tuesday, claiming four lives.

In Liangzihu, central Hubei Province, a 91-year-old woman was killed when her house collapsed during heavy rain Monday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In Guangfeng, Jiangxi Province, an unusual blast of wind left three people dead, injured 82 and destroyed more than 1,200 homes Monday.

Snow fell across Hebei, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, as well as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Tuesday.

At Beijing Capital International Airport, 68 flights were canceled and 33 were delayed through early Tuesday due to the heavy snow Monday night.

The Beijing authorities sent tens of thousands of workers to clean snow along its main roads, inspect heating systems and guide traffics.

More than 99 percent of the city's households are being heated, according to Beijing Heating Supply Office.