Brace Yourselves: Epic Cold Wave to Sweep Across China During Spring Festival Return Trips ❄️
Just when you thought the winter chill was over, a new round of icy weather is about to shake things up in the Chinese mainland! From February 17 to 22, most parts of the country will experience a massive cold wave, with severe temperature drops and widespread rain and snow hitting the central and eastern regions. 🥶
According to the chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, this chilling weather couldn't come at a worse time. As millions of people hit the roads to return from their Spring Festival celebrations, the rainy and snowy conditions are expected to ramp up road traffic risks. Think snow-covered highways, icy patches, and potential traffic jams galore! 🚗❄️
Chen Jie, deputy director of the Highway Monitoring and Response Center, shared that during the Spring Festival holiday, traffic on expressways has skyrocketed. From February 10 to 15, daily traffic flow was a whopping 57.53 million vehicles, up 19.15% from the same period last year! 😲
On February 16 alone, between midnight and noon, the total traffic volume on expressways across the country hit 29.65 million vehicles—about twice the normal level. And guess what? The return traffic is mainly heading towards major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Wuhan, putting extra pressure on the expressways. 🛣️🌆
Starting February 17, as the cold wave takes hold, temperatures will be on a roller coaster ride with widespread rain and snow. Regions like Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Guizhou are forecast to experience freezing rain. Time to bundle up and drive safely! 🌧️❄️
To tackle the challenges, Chen said that the Highway Monitoring and Response Center will beef up research and analysis, prep emergency traffic diversion teams in advance, and enhance monitoring and early warnings to help ease congestion during the travel rush. 🚦👮♀️
So, if you're traveling during this time, make sure to check weather updates, plan your route carefully, and stay warm. Safe travels, amigos! ❤️
Reference(s):
Cold wave forecast as return trips from Spring Festival travel begin
cgtn.com
