Strongest Storm in 50 Years Hits Beijing with 150 km/h Winds — 838 Flights Canceled at Two Major Airports

Strongest Storm in 50 Years Hits Beijing with 150 km/h Winds — 838 Flights Canceled at Two Major Airports

Beijing, China – April 12, 2025
Hundreds of flights were canceled and train services suspended across northern China, including the capital Beijing, on Saturday due to intense gale-force winds, the strongest the city has seen in half a century.

According to Reuters, as of 11:30 a.m. local time (03:30 GMT), a total of 838 flights were canceled at Beijing’s two main international airports.

Winds Reach Up to 150 km/h

Winds of up to 93 mph (150 km/h) have been recorded—marking the strongest wind event in Beijing in the last 50 years. The storm is expected to persist throughout the weekend, prompting the closure of major tourist attractions and historic sites across the city.

Public Advised to Stay Indoors

On Friday, millions of residents were advised to stay indoors, and some state media outlets even warned that people weighing less than 50 kilograms (110 lbs) could be lifted by the wind.

Trains and Parks Shut Down

Several high-speed rail lines, including the airport express subway, were suspended. All city parks were closed. Despite preventive reinforcement, around 300 trees were reported to have been knocked down in the capital.

Vehicle Damage but No Casualties

Some vehicles were damaged, but no injuries have been reported so far. Most residents heeded official advice and stayed home. The city authorities had urged the capital’s 22 million residents to avoid non-essential travel.

A local resident told Reuters,
“People in Beijing were pretty scared. There was hardly anyone on the streets today. But it wasn’t quite as bad as we feared.”

Another person, a business traveler, added,

“I was planning to return home to Zhejiang province, but all flights last night and today were canceled due to the wind. I’ll need to rebook in a few days. For now, I’m basically stuck in Beijing.”

Storm’s Origin

The strong winds are the result of a cold cyclonic system over Mongolia, which is expected to continue impacting northern China through the weekend.

First ‘Orange Alert’ in a Decade

For the first time in ten years, Beijing’s municipal authorities issued an ‘Orange Alert’, the second-highest warning level for wind. Saturday is expected to bring the most severe gusts.

China’s Wind Scale

In China, wind speed is measured on a scale from 1 to 17:

• Level 11: “Severe damage”

• Level 12 and above: “Extremely destructive”

Forecasts indicate that winds this weekend will range from Level 11 to 13, signaling high risk.
Improvement in conditions is expected by Sunday, according to the meteorological office.