China has geared up to cope with the current winter's coldest weekend as the cold front said to be the worst in decades sweeps across the country. Weather authorities have raised the cold weather warning level from yellow to orange, the second highest level earlier this day.
The cold wave chilled 90 percent of China as temperatures dropped below the record values. In Beijing, temperatures plummeted to a 30-year low of minus 17 degrees Celsius.
In northeastern China, it reached minus 40 degrees. Temperatures in central and eastern regions were 8 degrees lower than the average levels. Together with the powerful cold wave, strong winds are expected to further bring shivers.
As heating demands continue to surge, power grids are being tested to ensure there's sufficient power supply.
Meanwhile, the central and eastern portions of the country have been struck by snow storms. Highways in at least 12 provincial regions have been closed since Friday. As the Spring Festival travel period begins tomorrow, local authorities have been put on high alert.
