China on alert for extreme winter weather as El Nino adds to global warming mix
- Chinese forecasters say each part of the country should prepare for local disasters as temperatures rise
- Sleet in the south is expected to pose a danger to power lines, crops and transport
Each part of the country should prepare for its own combination of extreme weather risks this winter, the China Meteorological Administration said on Saturday, with the world on track to have its hottest year on record in 2023.
“Cold air will be active periodically, while the southern region will receive more rain. The risk of compound meteorological disasters will increase,” it said.
“Predictions show the temperature in most parts of the country from this winter to next spring will be close to or higher than the same period of past years.”
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El Nino is a natural climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that brings warmer sea-surface temperatures, often leading to heatwaves, droughts and floods around the world.