From January 17 to 21, affected by strong cold air, most parts of China will experience an extensive cold wave from north to south, bringing significant temperature drops, widespread rain, snow and freezing conditions, with freezing rain expected in some regions.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) upgraded to level three emergency responses to tackle the process at 18:00 on January 18.

The National Meteorological Centre of CMA continued to release warnings of cold wave, snowstorm and freezing on January 19.

Meteorological departments in multiple regions took prompt action, timely submitting the Important Weather Report and Special Report on Major Meteorological Information to governments and relevant departments, providing a scientific foundationfor the early deployment of defense work.

In Beijing, the Municipal Service has continuously submitted rolling reports to the Municipal Government since January 15, with work reminders and quick meteorological information bulletins released successively.

Meteorological Services of Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces all submitted the Special Report on Major Meteorological Information to their respective Provincial Governments in advance, ensuring the rapid top-down implementation of preventive measures.

On January 18, Beijing coordinated and dispatched forces from all parties to carry out snow sweeping and ice shoveling work. Source: Weibo

To respond to complex meteorological disasters, the key lies in coordinated linkage. Meteorological departments across various regions have actively given play to the leading role of meteorological early warnings, deepened collaboration with departments such as emergency management, transportation, agriculture and rural affairs, electric power, and health commissions, and promoted the effective implementation of the linkage mechanism between early warnings and emergency responses.

Meteorological services accurately focus on the risk points of various industries and sectors.

In the field of traffic safety, meteorological departments in Beijing, Shaanxi, Shandong and other regions have focused on reminding of the high risks of road icing, snow accumulation and low visibility, and advised transportation departments to make preventive arrangements in advance.

In terms of energy supply guarantee, Shaanxi has specifically reminded of the need to guard against the threat of freezing rain in the Qinba Mountains to power and communication facilities. Electric power departments in Shandong, Xinjiang and other regions have proactively reinforced power lines and deployed emergency power supplies in advance based on the forecasts.

In terms of agricultural production, meteorological departments of Henan have analyzed and pointed out that the current round of weather featuring "first snowfall followed by temperature drop" is more beneficial than harmful to wheat production, but risks to protected agriculture need to be guarded against. In Shaanxi, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and other regions, special early warnings have been jointly issued with agricultural and rural affairs departments to guide farmers in reinforcing and insulating greenhouses and livestock sheds.

In the field of public health, Kaifeng Municipal Meteorological Department, Henan has jointly issued a "Low-Temperature Health Risk Warning" with the Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, providing detailed guidance for the public to guard against risks of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and falls during travel.

On January 16, a sharp temperature drop occurred in Wenquan County, Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. In response to the meteorological forecasts and early warnings, public security and animal husbandry departments jointly carried out livestock transfer operations to ensure the order of animal husbandry production. Photo by XU Qifan

In Linyi County, Yuncheng, Shanxi, the meteorological office has achieved full coverage of early warning information to emergency responsible persons, large-scale growers and the general public through various channels such as short messages, new media and loudspeakers. In Wenquan County, in accordance with the forecast, public security and animal husbandry departments have taken joint actions to safely transfer livestock and safeguard the order of animal husbandry production. In Qingyun County, Dezhou, Shandong , the meteorological office and the fire and rescue brigade have activated the linkage mechanism to carry out targeted drills for low-temperature disaster rescue.

Author: HUANG Wanting, SONG Lihui, WANG Meijuan, SUN Lei, XU Qifan, and LIU Yue

Editor: LIU Shuqiao