China warns citizens to stay indoors as strongest winds in a decade threaten to blow people away

Local media warned that those weighing under 50 kg could be “easily blown away.” And it’s not just an exaggeration—gusts up to 150 kmph are forecasted as a cold vortex sweeps down from Mongolia.

This isn’t completely out of the blue—northern China does see strong winds around this time of year—but meteorologists are calling this event one of the most severe in recent memory. For the first time in ten years, Beijing has issued an orange alert for gales, the second-highest level in their four-tier warning system.

Officials are predicting a dramatic temperature drop in Beijing—up to 13°C lower in just a day. The Beijing Meteorological Service said, “This strong wind is extreme, lasts for a long time, affects a wide area, and is highly disastrous.”

 

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According to China’s wind scale, which ranges from level 1 to 17, this weekend’s winds are expected to hit between level 11 and 13. For context, a level 11 wind can cause “serious damage,” while a level 12 brings “extreme destruction”.

Precautionary measures have gone into overdrive—construction work is paused, train services are disrupted, trees have been pruned or tied down, and people are being told to stay far away from mountainous or forested areas where conditions could get even worse. Even the world’s first humanoid robot half marathon, scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed to April 19.

Meanwhile, social media users are doing what the Internet does best—finding humor amid chaos. A user wrote, “If you’re lightweight, better walk around with stones in your pockets.’ Another user commented, “America finally feeling confident next to the Chinese in one category. Wind resistance.”

A third person said, “My ex would be safe very safe indeed.” A fourth individual commented, “Literally read this headline and thought it was The Onion.” The Onion is an American digital media company and newspaper organization that publishes satirical articles on international, national, and local news.

Beijing has also issued a forest fire alert and banned all open flames outdoors. Thankfully, the storm is expected to ease up by Sunday night—but until then, it’s a stay-indoors kind of weekend in northern China.