• Severe sandstorms move across northern China, breaking wind records at 499 stations and prompting rare public advisories

    ByRishav Kothari

    Chinese authorities warned citizens weighing less than 50 kg (110 lb) to stay indoors as a large-scale low-pressure system moving in from Mongolia brought record-breaking winds exceeding 150 km/h (93 mph) to parts of northern China. Over 499 weather stations broke April wind records as the system moved southeast through the weekend, causing widespread damage and placing millions under severe weather alerts.

  • Severe sandstorms hit parts of NW China

    ByTW

    Severe sandstorms hit Ruoqiang County in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the morning of February 17, 2024, reducing visibility to less than 100 m (330 feet) and prompting authorities to implement traffic control measures on many roads. In Turpan, local rescue teams were deployed to assist those stranded by the sandstorms.

  • Rare winter sandstorm hits Beijing, China

    ByTeo Blašković

    A rare winter sandstorm swept over northern China on Monday, December 12, 2022, causing Beijing to suffer its worst bout of air pollution in nearly two years. This is the latest sand and dust warning signal issued by Beijing since 2015.

  • Massive sandstorm blankets Hotan, western China

    ByJulie Celestial

    A massive sandstorm blanketed the city of Hotan in western China on Sunday, June 28, 2020. According to the South China Morning Post, the visibility was reduced to 50 m (164 feet), and residents suffered breathing difficulties. The storm began at around 08:50 UTC…

  • Massive sandstorm engulfs Baicheng city, China

    ByJulie Celestial

    A massive sandstorm blanketed the city of Baicheng in Jilin Province, Northeast China, on April 3, 2020. The phenomenon is locally known as a "black storm". Waves of dust were swept up by gale-force winds of 63 to 74 km/h (39 to 46 mph). In one footage, a…

  • Massive sandstorm engulfs Golmud, Qinghai province, China

    ByTeo Blašković

    A ferocious sandstorm engulfed the city of Golmud in China' Qinghai province on July 25, 2018, causing zero visibility. The sandstorm was accompanied by 75 km/h (46 mph) winds that brought down trees and caused traffic chaos. The police was forced to use…