Hundreds of flights were cancelled and rail services suspended on Saturday as Beijing and parts of northern China were hit by the strongest winds in more than 50 years, prompting authorities to warn millions to stay indoors. By midday, more than 830 flights had been grounded at the capital's two major airports, while train operations — including the airport express subway and several high-speed lines — were disrupted due to wind gusts reaching up to 150 kph (93 mph), according to Reuters. The gale-force winds, driven by a powerful cold vortex over Mongolia, forced the closure of parks, tourist attractions, and historic sites across the city. Officials reinforced or trimmed hundreds of trees in anticipation, but nearly 300 still toppled, damaging several vehicles. No injuries were reported. Beijing issued its first orange alert for strong winds in a decade — the second-highest warning level in the system — as meteorologists forecast the extreme weather to persist through the weekend. Residents weighing under 50 kilograms (110 pounds) were humorously cautioned by state media to remain indoors to avoid being "blown away." Most of the capital's 22 million inhabitants heeded the warnings, with streets remaining largely deserted. "It wasn't as bad as I had imagined, but everyone was definitely on edge," one local told Reuters. One businessman stranded in the capital after his flight to Zhejiang was cancelled said, "All flights scheduled for last night and today were cancelled. I'll probably rebook in a couple of days." China classifies wind speeds on a scale of 1 to 17. This weekend's gales reached levels 11 to 13 — considered capable of causing serious to extreme destruction. Dust and sand storms from Mongolia are a seasonal occurrence in northern China, but climate experts say such events are becoming more intense due to global warming. Weather conditions are expected to ease by Sunday. — Agencies
