China News Service, Lanzhou, March 17 (Reporter Feng Zhijun) Starting from the night of March 14, Gansu, a "narrow and long region," suffered the strongest sand and dust intrusion in five years. There were various degrees of wind and sand in many places, and many places in the Hexi Corridor appeared. Sandstorm.
As of the 17th, the dust of "earth flavour choking people" still permeated most of Gansu, including the provincial capital Lanzhou. The air quality index of most of the 14 cities and prefectures in the province was still in a state of "explosive".
The picture shows that the banks of the Yellow River in Lanzhou City were pale on the evening of March 16.
Photo by Feng Zhijun
The reporter learned from the Gansu Meteorological Bureau on the 17th that the weather process has gradually appeared from west to east, and the scope has continued to expand, sweeping through most of Hexi, Lanzhou, Baiyin, Linxia, Qingyang and other cities and prefectures, and Gannan Prefecture.
During the period, 11 stations in Mazongshan, Dunhuang, Guazhou, Yumen Town, Suzhou District, Dingxin, Jinta, Ganzhou District, Gaotai, Minle, and Minqin reached the dust storm level, and 5 stations in Jiuquan, Wuwei and Dingxi were accompanied by strong winds. .
During this period, Wuwei City, located at the easternmost end of the Hexi Corridor, was hit by the strongest sandstorm in the past 10 years, with a minimum visibility of 200 meters. The Liangzhou District, where the city’s government is located, appeared strong floating dust that lasted for several hours with a minimum visibility of 100 meters.
Severe dust storms and floating dust weather have extremely deteriorated air quality, which has severely affected people's production and life, and local primary schools have temporarily suspended classes.
Dunhuang, a famous international cultural and tourist city on the Silk Road, was hit by the first sandstorm this year on the 16th.
In order to ensure the safety of tourists and cultural relics, the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, a world cultural heritage site, announced the suspension of opening on the morning of the 16th, and it has not resumed opening until noon on the 17th.
On the evening of March 16, the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River was shrouded in dust, and distant mountains and buildings were looming.
Photo by Feng Zhijun
The monitoring data of the Meteorological Department shows that this is the strongest sand and dust attack that Gansu has encountered in the past five years. Because the sand and dust weather process is an input source of sand, there has been no obvious cold air in the central and northern parts of Hexi recently, and the atmospheric stratification is relatively stable. , Is not conducive to the spread and settlement of sand and dust.
In the south, the precipitation was relatively obvious from the 17th to the 18th, which was conducive to the deposition of floating dust.
Affected by the sand and dust weather for several days, some flights and long-distance buses in Gansu Province have been cancelled, high-speed speed limits, some sections have been closed, and some passengers have switched to railways.
By the 17th, all highway control sections affected by the sand and dust weather in Hexi, Gansu were all restored to traffic; previously affected by the sand and dust weather, all out-of-field flights have been restored, and all take-off and landing flights at Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport on the morning of the 17th normal.
The Meteorological Department reminded that March is a period of high incidence of severe winds, sand and dust in Gansu. Sand and dust weather may have certain adverse effects on transportation, facility agriculture and public life. It is recommended that relevant units and the public pay attention to nowcasting in time. Early warning information, take preventive measures in advance. (Finish)