Cold snap could delay travellers heading back to jobs after Chinese New Year
Temperatures expected to hit zero around Yangtze Delta, with traffic jams likely in Beijing
Hundreds of millions of mainlanders returning to their jobs after the Lunar New Year festival are likely to get caught in freezing weather.
A massive cold front is expected to move south from the north and west, sending temperature plunging by up to 14 degrees Celsius in various parts of the country.
Beijingers will also have the added headache of snarled traffic, with drivers advised to steer clear of key intersections.
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The cold front is expected to affect most parts of the central and east mainland for three days beginning on Sunday, said the country’s official weather forecaster.
The areas will likely see rainfall and snow, causing temperatures to fall by between 6 degrees and 4 degrees, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Northern Xinjiang has seen up to 10mm of snowfall across a nearly 24 hour period since Wednesday morning.
Up to 7mm is expected over the weekend in parts of the north, including Shanxi, Ningxia as well as Gansu in the west.
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The Yangtze River Delta is expected to see thunderstorms and sleet, as temperatures fall to about zero degrees. A drop of up to 14 degrees is expected in parts of Inner Mongolia.