In many areas, temperatures have dropped by 12-16 degrees Celsius, accompanied by strong winds and continuous heavy snowfall.
The Chinese government has activated emergency response measures to mitigate the impact of the significant drop in temperatures and heavy snowfall since November 23, severely affecting the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in Northeast China as well as the northern parts of the country.
In many areas, temperatures have dropped by 12-16 degrees Celsius, with strong winds and continuous heavy snowfall.
In Heilongjiang Province, local meteorological authorities issued a red alert, the highest level in China’s four-tier warning system. Meanwhile, water authorities in Inner Mongolia rushed to clear water flows as the Yellow River enters its freezing season, which could lead to flooding if ice obstructs the flow.
In several provinces such as Jilin, Gansu, and Qinghai, local authorities and community support groups are working to clear snow from roads and rooftops, as well as checking and repairing heating systems for residential areas. Meanwhile, Beijing issued a blue alert, urging tourist sites, especially in mountainous regions, to implement safety measures.
The cold wave is expected to continue moving southeast, affecting Central and Southern China in the coming days, with temperatures potentially dropping by 6-8 degrees Celsius.
Unusually heavy snowfall in November in central Seoul, South Korea on November 27. (Photo: REUTERS)
Meanwhile, the capital of South Korea, Seoul, and many surrounding provinces experienced a second consecutive day of extreme snowfall on November 28, with average snowfall in Seoul reaching 28.6 cm by 8 a.m. local time, nearly double the 16.5 cm recorded the previous day, which was already a record high for November since records began in 1907.
The highest recorded snowfall in the region was 40.2 cm in the Gwanak district of Seoul, while Yongin City, located 40 km from Seoul, received up to 47.5 cm of snow. Over 140 flights were canceled as Incheon Airport in Seoul was heavily affected by adverse weather, with 14% of other flights delayed. Nearly 100 ferry services were also canceled, while subway operations were delayed due to snow removal efforts.
Many schools in Seoul were closed, and hundreds of households temporarily lost power. Snowfall ceased in Seoul by the afternoon of November 28, but continued in some other areas until November 30.
