Today, October 20th, a strong cold front continues to affect the central and eastern regions of China. At the same time, a new round of widespread rain and snow is expected to move rapidly across areas north of the Yangtze River, with some regions likely experiencing a transition from rain to snow. Following this, another wave of cold air will hit from October 21st to 22nd, leading to a persistent drop in temperatures that will reach new lows since the start of autumn.
Northern regions are seeing continued temperature declines, with cities like Hohhot set to experience the coldest daytime temperatures since autumn began. Yesterday, the cold air caused significant drops in temperatures across central and eastern China, with many areas recording their lowest temperatures of the season. Monitoring data shows a decline of 6 to 10°C in places like eastern and southern North China, central and western Huanghuai, Jianghuai, western Jianghan, northern and eastern Jiangnan, and central-northern Shaanxi.
Today will still be a day of record lows across many areas. In North China, the highest temperatures will drop to around 10°C. For instance, Hohhot is expected to have a high of just 7°C and Shijiazhuang 9°C, marking the coldest day since the start of autumn.
From October 21st to 22nd, another cold front will impact the country; however, because temperatures started low, the drop won’t be as severe as the current situation. Yet, minimum temperatures in the Northwest, North China, and Huanghuai will continue to break records for the season. In cities like Xining, the minimum temperature is forecasted to hit -1°C, marking the first time this year it will fall below 0°C, underscoring the chilly weather.
Similarly, minimum temperatures in the southern regions will see a significant drop. After the rain and snow subside, from October 23rd to 25th, many places in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River can expect minimum temperatures around 10°C as they usher in the frost period amidst a strong autumn atmosphere.
A new wave of rain and snow is on the horizon, with the northern regions possibly experiencing rain-snow transitions. Although precipitation across central and eastern China diminished yesterday, areas like eastern Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou are still seeing considerable rain. Meanwhile, the new rain and snow event is spreading from the northwest. Recent monitoring indicated heavy rainfall in parts of Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangdong, with localized downpours affecting cities like Mianyang and Guangzhou. Additionally, areas in southern Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia experienced moderate to heavy rain, with a combination of rain and snow observed in northern and eastern Xinjiang and parts of Qinghai.
Today, the new rain and snow event will quickly sweep across regions north of the Yangtze River, including rain and snow in parts of western and northern North China, as well as Northeast China. Tomorrow, the area affected by this weather system will noticeably shrink.
Looking ahead, the Central Meteorological Station forecasts that today will bring light snow or mixed rain and snow to areas like central and eastern Inner Mongolia, northwest Heilongjiang, the Tian Shan regions in Xinjiang, central and southern Tibet, western Gansu, and northern Shanxi. Also, heavy rain is expected in parts of Chongqing, southwestern Hubei, northwestern Guizhou, southwestern Yunnan, the Shandong Peninsula, and northeastern Taiwan, with some areas in Taiwan potentially seeing heavy downpours (50-80mm).
Tomorrow, light snow or mixed rain and snow will occur in places like eastern Inner Mongolia, northwestern Heilongjiang, and northern Shanxi, with moderate snow likely in northeastern Inner Mongolia. Eastern Liaoning, the Shandong Peninsula, southern Chongqing, and various parts of Hubei and Anhui are also predicted to experience light to moderate rainfall, with heavy rain (25-40mm) expected in certain locales.
The China Weather Network advises that over the next two days, a broad range of rain and snow will sweep across the country from west to east, though the overall intensity is not expected to be strong. Those planning to go out should take care with transportation. Moreover, as the strong cold air continues to push south, significant temperature drops in various regions will necessitate caution, prompting the public to dress warmly and be mindful of the changing weather to prevent colds.
