On February 1, the Central Meteorological Observatory issued an orange freezing warning for the first time. This was the highest level freezing warning issued since my country established freezing warning standards in 2010. According to news released earlier by the Central Meteorological Observatory, from February 1st to 5th, my country will usher in the strongest rain, snow and freezing weather in winter since 2009, with the central and eastern regions being the main affected areas.
"This time coincides with the small peak period in the early Spring Festival. The flow of people returning home and traveling out of many places has surged, and the areas severely affected by weather are mostly in the central and eastern transportation hub provinces. We need to be alert to risks and strengthen response." Zhang Feng, deputy chief forecaster of the Central Meteorological Observatory remind.
First freezing orange warning issued
On February 1, the Central Meteorological Observatory issued a blue warning for heavy snow, a blue warning for strong winds, a yellow warning for heavy fog, and an orange warning for freezing. Among them, the freezing orange warning is eye-catching - from February 1st to 4th, there will be persistent freezing rain in parts of southern Henan, Hubei, central and northern Anhui, northern Jiangsu, central and northern Hunan, eastern Guizhou, and southeastern Chongqing.
"Such large-scale and northerly freezing rain is not uncommon, and it is also a point that requires special attention during this round of rain and snow." Sun Jun, chief forecaster of the Central Meteorological Observatory, said that this will be the most freezing rain in provinces this winter. process.
What is freezing rain?
When strong cold air moves southward and encounters warm and moist airflow, the temperature near the ground drops sharply below zero degrees Celsius. The moist warm air is lifted up and turns into clouds causing rain. When the raindrops fall from the sky, they fall on telephone poles, trees, and A thin layer of ice will freeze on vegetation and road surfaces. Meteorologically, this weather phenomenon is called freezing rain.
The freezing warning levels from low to high are yellow, orange and red. Different levels of warning mainly differ in the duration of freezing weather. Data show that the Central Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow freezing warning for the first time in February 2013, and the second freezing warning was issued in December 2023, which is still a yellow warning. The freezing orange warning issued this time is the highest level freezing warning issued so far.
"Compared with December 2023, the impact of freezing rain this time is wider, stronger, and longer." Zhang Feng reminded that freezing rain has a greater impact on transportation, power facilities, public travel, etc., especially on The impact is particularly significant on communications and power transmission lines. The transportation and public security departments need to be prepared to deal with road icing, rationally divert vehicles, and close icy roads when necessary; airport and highway management units need to take ice-breaking and ice-melting measures to ensure smooth traffic; electric power and related departments need to Strengthen the prevention of ice accumulation on wires, and comprehensively inspect and repair key equipment and facilities such as transmission lines to ensure their normal operation.
Widespread freezing rain and snow are rare
This widespread rain, snow, and freezing weather reminds many people of the low-temperature rain, snow, and freezing disaster in the South in early 2008.
"From January 10 to February 2, 2008, southern my country suffered from rain, snow, freezing and low temperature disasters that were rare in history. It was wide-ranging, intense, long-lasting, and had severe impacts. It was rare in history." Zhao Junhu, chief on duty at the National Climate Center, has a deep memory. .
According to the forecast of the Central Meteorological Observatory, the duration, low temperature intensity, and freezing range of this year's rain, snow, and freezing weather are not as good as the low-temperature rain, snow, and freezing weather in the south in early 2008, but it will be the strongest winter since 2009.
Xu Jun, chief forecaster of the Central Meteorological Observatory, explained that this rain and snow process was caused by the abundant water vapor brought by the eastward-moving and deepening South Branch trough, combined with the cold air from mid-to-high latitudes. It lasted until February 5 and ended on February 5. .
"Historically, large-scale, long-lasting rain, snow, and freezing weather in our country are rare." Zhao Junhu said that the El Niño event is an important climate background for this large-scale rain, snow, and freezing weather.
According to the latest monitoring from the National Climate Center, the moderate-intensity El Niño event that began in May 2023 has now entered a recession period and is expected to last until early spring of 2024. According to statistics, in the winter when El Niño occurs, the temperature in most areas of my country is close to normal to relatively high, but the cold air is active in phases, and the temperature fluctuates greatly. In addition, the intensity of the subtropical high in the northwest Pacific is relatively strong, and the water vapor conditions in central and eastern my country are relatively good, so precipitation is likely to be higher than the same period in normal years.
Make all emergency preparations in advance
According to the Ministry of Transport, the number of cross-regional people movements across the country during this year’s Spring Festival travel season is expected to reach 9 billion, a record high. This widespread rain, snow and freezing weather coincides with the peak of returning home before the Spring Festival, so the risk cannot be underestimated.
Liu Yanxiang, Chief of Meteorological Service of the Public Meteorological Service Center of the China Meteorological Administration, reminded that from the 1st to the 5th, due to the impact of rain, snow and freezing weather, many places in Daguang, Erguang, Jiguang, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, Shenhai, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangrui, etc. Snow or ice may occur on highways, and highway traffic meteorological risks are high, which can easily cause traffic jams or blocks. Please pay attention to driving safety. In addition, snow and ice will affect the rails, signaling systems and communication equipment of railway transportation. Aviation should pay attention to the risks of icing and turbulence on the aircraft fuselage.
On January 31, the China Meteorological Administration launched a level three emergency response to major meteorological disasters (rain, snow and freezing). On February 1, the China Meteorological Administration made special arrangements for prevention and response work, requiring all localities to closely monitor weather changes and strengthen risk analysis and judgment; pay close attention to key areas, key industries, key groups, and key periods, and issue early warning information through multiple channels and high frequency. , promptly carry out high-level early warning "calling and responding" work; strengthen on-duty duty and respond to emergencies.
Various places are also actively responding. For example, Henan has urgently installed meteorological monitoring equipment on main transmission lines with a high risk of ice coating, added traffic meteorological stations on important sections such as the Yellow River Bridge, and dispatched meteorological expert teams to key meteorological disaster prevention units such as the China Railway Zhengzhou Bureau Group and the Provincial Transportation Command Center. , carry out on-site on-duty services. Shandong has launched rolling services for professional users such as electricity and transportation, and sent personnel to the Traffic Management Bureau of the Provincial Public Security Department to jointly discuss and determine the impact of rain, snow, fog and other severe weather on traffic safety during the critical Spring Festival travel period, and prepare emergency response in advance Preparation.
Meteorological experts emphasized that various localities must make various emergency preparations in advance and strengthen management of traffic safety and urban operations. The public should pay close attention to the forecast and warning information issued by the meteorological department and arrange travel plans reasonably.
(Our reporter, Chen Haibo, Beijing, February 1)