Weather stabilizing as strong winds, sandstorms ease

Weather conditions are beginning to normalize after a recent cold air mass triggered unseasonably strong winds and widespread sandstorms, disrupting daily life across China, forecasters said.

The powerful gusts, which began sweeping through central and eastern regions on Thursday, have been marked by wide coverage, extended duration and high wind speeds, according to the National Meteorological Center.

More than 3.5 million square kilometers — over one-third of the country's land area — recorded wind gusts exceeding 61.92 km/h, the center said on Monday. The strongest winds occurred from Saturday to Sunday, with localized gusts reaching between 149.4 and 183.24 km/h in places such as Beijing, Tianjin, the provinces of Hebei and Henan, and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.