Henan experiences extreme high winds

Most parts of Henan province experienced wind gusts ranging from Force 8 to 10 on the Beaufort scale from Friday to Saturday, with some areas reaching Force 11 to 13, and the maximum wind force reaching Force 15, according to the local meteorological bureau.

Monitoring data reveals that the maximum wind speeds recorded at 40 stations in the province have exceeded historical records for April, said the Henan provincial meteorological bureau in a statement on Saturday morning.

The bureau forecasts that strong winds will continue on Saturday, with gusts of Force 8 to 10 across the province, reaching 11 to 12 in some areas in the central, western and northern regions, accompanied by dust and sand. Gusts of Force 8 to 10 are also expected on Sunday.

In response to the extreme winds, provincial authorities had earlier issued a yellow warning for strong winds and activated a Level III emergency response for major meteorological disasters.

As of 6:21 am on Saturday, a total of 105 weather warnings for strong winds, cold waves, thunderstorms, and other weather events, were in effect across the province.

Several tourist attractions have temporarily closed or implemented crowd control measures.