The Chinese government has issued a warning to citizens living in the northern regions of the country and weighing less than 50 kilograms to stay at home. Strong winds blowing in the area prompted the alert that they could “easily be blown away.” The country’s weather agency has issued five warnings for this weekend, including winds, rain, snow, and thunderstorms.

WIND INTENSITY AT A CRITICAL LEVEL According to the warning, wind intensity can reach level 13. The China Meteorological Administration stated that level 11 winds can cause “serious damage,” while level 12 winds can lead to “extreme destruction.” In the capital, an orange-level wind alert was issued for the first time in a decade on Friday. This is the second-highest level of China’s four-tier wind alert system. Officials cautioned that the winds are powerful enough to uproot trees with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimeters.

MEASURES TAKEN TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE To minimize damage, city parks were closed, and old trees were pruned or reinforced. Despite these measures, around 300 trees were uprooted, and several vehicles were damaged. Officials also advised the 22 million residents of Beijing to avoid non-essential travel. The storm also disrupted transportation, with over 400 flights canceled at Beijing Capital International Airport and many train services suspended. While supermarkets remained open, shelves emptied quickly.