The Chinese government has issued a warning to citizens weighing less than 50 kilos to avoid being “blown away.” Officials expect winds to reach speeds of up to 150 km/h, forecasting a rare severe storm in the northern regions of the country.

The Chinese government has called on residents living in the north of the country and weighing less than 50 kilos to stay indoors. Due to strong winds in the region, a warning was issued that they could easily be “blown away.” The country’s meteorological agency issued five warnings covering winds, rain, snow, and thunderstorms for this weekend.

WIND INTENSITY AT CRITICAL LEVELS According to the warning, wind intensity reaches level 13. According to the China Meteorological Administration, level 11 winds can cause “serious damage,” while level 12 winds lead to “extreme destruction.” In the capital, an orange-level wind warning was issued for the first time in ten years on a Friday. This is the second-highest level in China’s four-tier wind warning system. Officials warned that winds are strong enough to uproot trees with a trunk diameter of up to 30 centimeters.

MEASURES TAKEN TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE To minimize damage, city parks were closed, and old trees were pruned or strengthened. Despite these measures, approximately 300 trees were uprooted, and several vehicles were damaged. Officials also advised the 22 million residents of Beijing to avoid non-essential travel. The storm also disrupted transportation. More than 400 flights were canceled at Beijing Capital International Airport, and many train services were suspended. While supermarkets remained open, shelves quickly emptied.