Snow and ice have caused travel problems in many parts of China as millions of people are going home for the Lunar New Year.
Many flights and train services were stopped, and drivers have been stuck on icy roads for many days.
Many people in China go back to their hometowns during the holiday, causing the biggest yearly migration of people.
Travel has started to increase after Covid-19 restrictions were removed more than a year ago.
Officials predict that people will take 480 million trips during the Lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival. The volume is 40% more than last year.
China’s weather experts said this winter will be the worst since 2008. The middle part of the country, including places like Hebei, Hubei, and Anhui, has been hit the hardest by the freezing weather.
On social media, Chinese people expressed that the very cold weather ruined their plans to meet up with their family. They put up pictures of themselves stuck in trains and train stations because the power lines were cut.
The Lunar New Year will be on February 10, which is a Saturday.
Three years ago, a snowstorm in Wuhan caused people tostay in the city during Spring Festival because of Covid-19 outbreak. Three years later, we still can’t access it,” as mentioned on X, which used to be called Twitter. The X person posted a video of a very crowded train station with lots of people stuck on the escalators because there were too many people.
Some people said thank you to the ones who went out in the cold to bring food and hot water to the people stuck on the icy roads. One video showed a woman in Xiantao, a city in Hubei province, using a pulley system to fill up water bottles for people stuck on the highway. “You can simply place your bottle in the basket. ” “There’s no need to give money,” she said.
Around 255 cities in the country have had days with really cold temperatures below 0C, which is much colder than before.
Almost 100 highway toll stations in Anhui are not allowing cars to enter because the roads are icy. On Monday, the news reported that 4,000 cars were stuck on the roads.
One person passed away and 13 people got hurt in a city in Hunan province on Monday when a roof fell down because of heavy snow at a market.
The government of China will give 141 million yuan ($20 million) to clear snow from highways and do related work in 11 provinces. This was reported by CCTV.
The very cold weather will get better soon, and the most serious blizzard warning will be lifted by authorities on Wednesday. It will keep snowing in south and central China, but it will get warmer by Friday.
Tag: snow
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Snowstorms impede travel during China’s Lunar New Year
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I make $20 dollars hourly for clearing snow in Canada – Ghanaian man brags, blasts govt over unemployment in Ghana
A Ghanaian residing in Canada has passionately chastised the leadership in Ghana for what he perceives as a failure to address the pressing issue of unemployment.
The individual, who disclosed his identity as Grandpa, expressed frustration over the disparity in earnings and opportunities between Ghana and his current location in Canada.
In the video, the man highlighted the stark contrast in employment conditions, emphasizing that in Canada, individuals earn a substantial $20 per hour for snow removal work.
Drawing a pointed comparison, he underscored that working just 10 hours a day would yield $200—a figure surpassing the monthly salary of many Ghanaians.
The frustrated individual urged Ghana’s leaders to take a more serious stance in managing the country’s affairs, particularly focusing on the urgent need to create employment opportunities for citizens.
He emphasized the economic challenges faced by many Ghanaians and called for a proactive approach to address unemployment, a critical issue affecting the livelihoods of countless citizens.
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Finally snow falls on Johannesburg for the first time in over a decade
The first snowfall in more than ten years shocked Johannesburg residents on Monday, as some children experienced snow for the first time.
Johannesburg last saw snow in August 2012, but other parts of South Africa frequently get snow throughout the southern hemisphere winter months of June to August.
Jennifer Banda revealed to Reuters that she was pregnant the last time it snowed after having her photo taken on Nelson Mandela Square in the business area.
On social media Johannesburg residents described the snow as “pure magic”, “hectic” and a “wonderful start to the week”.
University of Witwatersrand professor of physical geography Jennifer Fitchett told South Africa’s Times newspaper that the snow was unlikely to last, and had been caused by a surge in humidity, cold temperatures and a cold wind.
A man leads a horse as snow falls in Delta Park, Johannesburg. Photograph: Wikus de Wet/AFP/Getty Images
“It happens once every 10 years or so. We’re not an area that has a lot of snowfall and that’s partly because in winter we have dry conditions. We’ve got a strong, high pressure cell which is why we don’t have any or very little rain in winter months. And so don’t have much moisture in the air.”
It last snowed in 2012 and before that 2007, she said.
A view of a snow-covered streets during snowfall in Johannesburg. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Snow falls in Johannesburg once every five years on average, with heavier snow like that seen on Monday occurring once every 10 to 20 years, University of the Witwatersrand climatology professor Francois Engelbrecht told the Daily Maverick news website.
South African Weather Service meteorologist Wayne Venter told the Daily Maverick the conditions were not exceptional and could not be said to be due to climate change.
A woman throws snow in the air at a plaza in front of an office building in Johannesburg. Photograph: Wikus de Wet/AFP/Getty Images South of the city in Brackenhurst, a Reuters photographer saw children making snowballs and snow angels in a school’s grounds.
But for others, like delivery driver Chenjerai Murape whose motorbike would not start, the snow made life difficult.
“I’m trying to warm the engine so that it can start … otherwise I will kick the bike all day,” he said.
Children play in the snow at Laerskool Orion, a school located in Brackenhurst, a suburb south of Johannesburg in South Africa. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters The South African Weather Service has issued warnings because of the cold front that has struck Gauteng province, which contains Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria.
Snow also fell on Monday in the coal belt in Mpumalanga province, where many of struggling utility Eskom’s power stations are located.
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Ghanaian nurses in Belfast excited over snow encounter
A snow shower earlier this week gave Adwoa, Freda, and Richmond, who work at Kingsbridge Private Hospital on Belfast’s Lisburn Road, a taste of what winter is really like.
The Ghanaian nurses danced amid the snowflakes with their eyes closed, dazzling smiles on their cheeks, and had as much fun as children.
The trio hurried outside during their break to feel the snow on their skin without even putting on coats in their eagerness to be outside and experience the white stuff.
Photo credit: Belfast Telegraph The nurses who all work at Kingsbridge’s new Diagnostic and Treatment Centre at the old King’s Hall Building, said they were delighted to see snow for the first time.
Adwoa Aninkora, 26, who has been in Northern Ireland since October 2022 said: “It was beautiful. When you haven’t seen something before it is quite intriguing.
“We missed the first session of snow that day, so when we heard it was snowing again we wanted to see what it was like, so we just ran out in our scrubs.
“I have seen snow in movies, but it was so interesting to touch it.”
Northern Ireland’s weather is, of course, very different to that of Ghana, which enjoys a tropical climate.
“Back home we usually have the sun out most of the time – it rains, yes, but usually we are warm,” said Adwoa.
“In Northern Ireland it rains a lot. It is usually windy and cold, so it was a bit of a change coming from a tropical country, but you get used to it. I have bought a lot of jackets.”
Adwoa said she had sent the pictures of herself and her colleagues in the snow to her father back in Ghana.
“I sent a post to my dad. He’s been in Northern Ireland before, but being his daughter he was happy for me to experience snow.”
Credit: News Wires
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‘Heavy snowfall’ causes Manchester Airport to close its runways
As freezing fog, sleet, and snow hamper travel across the UK, passengers have been encouraged to contact their airline for the most recent flight information.
Due to the amount of snowfall, Manchester Airport has closed both runways.
A tweet read as follows: “We’ve blocked both runways temporarily due to the significant snowfall. Health and safety will always come first, and business will pick back up as soon as possible.”
Numerous flights are impacted, therefore passengers are urged to contact their airline for the latest recent travel information.
It comes as the Met Office warned freezing fog, sleet and snow could bring travel disruption to parts of the UK during the coming days.
Southeast England has been covered by a yellow weather warning for snow and ice on Sunday and Monday.
The western coast of England, Wales, and the north of Northern Ireland have warnings for ice on Saturday and Sunday.
Scotland, apart from the southwest, has a yellow warning for snow and ice covering Saturday and Sunday.
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Naija woman can’t contain excitement after seeing snow for the first time in her life in Canada – Video
Precious Kolawole, a young woman from Nigeria, posted a video of her showing her excitement at witnessing snow for the first time in her life.
The young lady was bubbling with euphoria while revealing on her Twitter page that it was a historic event for her to witness snow falling in Canada.
Apparently, prior to her recent move to Canada, Precious had never actually seen snow before except, of course in movies and storybooks, both fictional and non-fictional.
As deduced from the accompanying video shared herein, Precious could not contain her joy as she displayed her room’s view of other buildings’ snow-covered roofs in the video she posted.
Because heaven is an unimaginable reality, Precious asked God in a rhetorical manner if she was there.
“I am excited. God, is this heaven? This is heaven on earth. It’s so cute”, she said in the clip. She also captioned her post; ”I cannot contain my excitement
I saw snow for the first time today”.Source: Myinfogh.com