Beijing faces unusually severe winds on Saturday

Beijing is set to experience powerful winds starting Friday, with gusts in urban areas potentially reaching Force 10 — a rare occurrence for April, according to a Tuesday forecast from China Weather.

A cold front is expected to bring strong winds to central and eastern regions of China, with northern areas, including Beijing, facing particularly intense gusts. The capital may see unusually severe and potentially damaging winds on Saturday, which are uncommon for this time of year.

Meteorologist Xin Xin from China Weather explained that a developing cyclone on Friday and Saturday, combined with a sharp pressure gradient between the system and a cold high-pressure zone, will generate powerful winds across northern China. In Beijing and surrounding areas, gusts could reach Force 8 to 10, with some exceeding Force 11 (up to 32.6 meters per second).

Beijing residents have already experienced more windy days than usual this year. As of April 6, the Beijing Observatory has recorded six days with Force 8 or stronger winds — more than double the average for this time of year. This marks the third-highest number since 2001, trailing only 2004 and 2010, which each recorded seven such days, according to the Beijing Climate Center as reported by Beijing News.

Additionally, forecasts indicate that Beijing's April precipitation will be below average, while temperatures are expected to be slightly higher than usual, according to the report.