{"id":240548,"date":"2025-04-14T11:46:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T08:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/?p=240548"},"modified":"2025-04-14T11:46:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T08:46:51","slug":"storm-like-tornado-in-beijing-04-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/news\/storm-like-tornado-in-beijing-04-2025","title":{"rendered":"Storm like Tornado Blows Away Cars and People in Beijing"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Storm like Tornado Blows Away Cars and People in Beijing<\/h1>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-240549\" src=\"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp\" alt=\"Storm\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp 1280w, https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=300,height=169,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp 300w, https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=600,height=338,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp 600w, https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=432,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp 768w, https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=150,height=84,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/storm.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Beijing, China<\/strong> \u2013 A powerful storm system packing hurricane-force winds has brought chaos to northern China, grounding hundreds of flights, suspending train services, and forcing millions to hunker down indoors. The capital city, home to 22 million residents, was hit hard Saturday as gusts reaching up to 93 mph\u2014the strongest in over 50 years\u2014swept through, prompting widespread closures and safety warnings. The severe weather, driven by a cold vortex system originating in Mongolia, is expected to continue disrupting the region through the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>As of 11:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. GMT) on Saturday, April 12, 2025, a staggering 838 flights were canceled at Beijing\u2019s two major airports, including the bustling Beijing Capital International Airport in Chaoyang. The cancellations left travelers stranded, with many forced to delay plans or seek alternative routes. \u201cBecause of the severe winds, all flights scheduled for last night and today were canceled,\u201d a businessman from Zhejiang province told Reuters. \u201cI\u2019m now basically stranded in Beijing.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Massive Destruction in China! Most Horrific Storm hits Homes and Cars in Multiple Provinces\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/icbr15W_ZUE?start=132&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The winds, classified as level 11 to 13 on China\u2019s 17-level wind scale, are capable of causing \u201cserious damage\u201d to \u201cextreme destruction,\u201d according to the China Meteorological Administration. Beijing issued its first orange alert for strong winds in a decade, a rare and serious warning urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. State media even cautioned that individuals weighing less than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) could be \u201ceasily blown away\u201d by the gusts\u2014a vivid reminder of the storm\u2019s intensity.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond air travel, the storm disrupted ground transportation. The express subway line serving Beijing Capital International Airport was suspended, along with several high-speed rail routes. Parks and historic sites across the city were shuttered to protect visitors, and authorities took proactive measures to reinforce or trim older trees. Despite these efforts, nearly 300 trees toppled in the capital, with some causing damage to vehicles. Remarkably, no injuries have been reported, a testament to residents heeding calls to stay indoors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone in Beijing was really nervous about it,\u201d a local resident shared with Reuters. \u201cToday there are hardly any people out on the streets. However, it wasn\u2019t as severe as I had imagined.\u201d The eerie quiet of the city\u2019s usually bustling streets underscored the storm\u2019s impact, as millions followed official guidance to remain safe at home.<\/p>\n<p>The meteorological culprit behind this chaos is a potent cold vortex system sweeping down from Mongolia, channeling frigid air and ferocious winds across northern China. This system has unleashed gusts not seen in Beijing since the early 1970s, shattering records and testing the city\u2019s resilience. The China Meteorological Administration forecasts that the strongest winds will peak on Saturday, with conditions expected to gradually ease by Sunday, April 13.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"title\">Storm &#8211; Hundreds of flights cancelled in China as strong winds hit capital<\/h2>\n<p>While the storm\u2019s severity has been classified as \u201clow\u201d in terms of broader humanitarian impact, its localized effects on Beijing\u2014a global hub for travel and commerce\u2014are undeniable. The cancellation of hundreds of flights has ripple effects, stranding business travelers, tourists, and families alike. Airports, typically alive with activity, stood nearly silent as monitors displayed a cascade of cancellations. For those caught in the storm\u2019s grip, frustration mingled with an understanding of nature\u2019s unpredictability.<\/p>\n<p>Beijing\u2019s response has been swift and coordinated. Authorities have prioritized public safety, closing attractions and reinforcing infrastructure to mitigate damage. The city\u2019s tree-trimming efforts, while not entirely successful in preventing falls, likely reduced risks in public spaces. The absence of reported injuries speaks to the effectiveness of these measures and the public\u2019s compliance with warnings.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, forecasters are optimistic that the worst will pass by Sunday, allowing Beijing to begin recovering. Airports are expected to resume normal operations as winds subside, though backlog from canceled flights may cause delays into the early part of the week. Travelers like the Zhejiang businessman remain in limbo, planning to rebook flights in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>For now, Beijing remains under the storm\u2019s influence, its skyline obscured by swirling dust and debris carried by the relentless gales. The event serves as a stark reminder of nature\u2019s power to disrupt even the most modern and prepared cities. As the winds howl, residents and officials alike are bracing for the final hours of this historic weather event, hopeful for calmer skies on the horizon.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/en-weather-app\">Weather Forecaster App<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beijing, China \u2013 A powerful storm system packing hurricane-force winds has brought chaos to northern China, grounding hundreds of flights, suspending train services, and forcing millions to hunker down indoors. The capital city, home to 22 million residents, was hit hard Saturday as gusts reaching up to 93 mph\u2014the strongest in over 50 years\u2014swept through, prompting widespread closures and safety warnings. The severe weather, driven by a cold vortex system originating in Mongolia, is expected to continue disrupting the region through the weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":240549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,6649],"class_list":["post-240548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-nature-disasters","tag-severe-weather-en","tag-tornado"],"acf":[],"wpml_data":{"original_post_id":240548,"trid":"1434205","lang":"en","source_lang":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}