At 10 a.m. on February 1, the Meteorological Observatory issued the first Orange Warning for Ice, which is the highest level of freezing warning issued since the establishment of the Freezing Warning Standard in 2010.
Freezing warnings are not common. According to the data, the ** Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow warning for freezing for the first time in February 2013, when Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi and other places suffered severe freezing rain. The second time a freezing warning was issued in December 2023, when the ** Meteorological Observatory issued a yellow warning for freezing, which caused public concern. This warning is the first time that the ** Meteorological Observatory has issued an orange-level freezing warning.
National freezing rain regional forecast map (14:00 on February 1 - 14:00 on February 2).
From February 1 to 4, there was continuous freezing rain in parts of southern Henan, Hubei, central and northern Anhui, northern Jiangsu, central and northern Hunan, eastern Guizhou, and southeastern Chongqing. Among them, from 14 o'clock on February 1 to 14 o'clock on the 2nd, the cumulative freezing rainfall in parts of southern Henan, central and northern Anhui, southwestern and central eastern Hubei, central and northern Hunan, northeast Guizhou, and southeastern Chongqing can reach 3 to 8 mm, and more than 10 mm locally.
What is the Orange Alert for Ice?
The levels of freezing warnings are yellow, orange and red from low to high, and the duration of freezing weather is different for different levels.
The red alert indicates that freezing weather has continued in parts of more than 3 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) in the past 72 hours, and it is expected that freezing weather will continue in these areas in the next 48 hours.
The orange warning indicates that freezing weather has continued in parts of more than 3 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) in the past 48 hours, and it is expected that freezing weather will continue in these areas in the next 24 hours.
The yellow warning is that freezing weather is expected in parts of more than 3 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) in the next 24 hours.
*Zhang Feng, deputy chief forecaster of the Meteorological Observatory, said that compared with the yellow warning for freezing in December 2023, the impact of the freezing rain in the southern region will be more extensive, stronger and longer, and the impact will last from February 1 to 4.
On January 31, the Ministry of Emergency Management launched an emergency response to low-temperature rain, snow and freezing disasters in Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi and other places.
Will the rare freezing warning affect the Spring Festival?
Freezing rain is a destructive meteorological disaster, which freezes as it falls, and can immediately adhere to the surface of bare objects, forming thicker and thicker solid ice.
Freezing rain has a great impact on transportation, power facilities, public travel, etc., especially on communication and transmission lines. At present, it coincides with the Spring Festival, and the number of people returning to their hometowns and traveling abroad has skyrocketed, and it is necessary to take precautions and deal with them.
The China Meteorological Administration issued traffic safety tips for freezing rain and snow.
Impact on highway traffic: From February 1st to 5th, affected by freezing rain and snow weather, there may be snow or ice on highways in Daguang, Erguang, Jiguang, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, Shenhai, Shanghai-Chongqing, Hangrui and other highways in many places, and the meteorological risk of highway traffic is high, which is easy to cause traffic congestion or blockage, and it is necessary to pay attention to driving safety. Impact on aviation: Low visibility caused by rain and snow will reduce the pilot's visual distance during take-off and landing, and the slippery and icy runway will also adversely affect take-off and landing, so it is necessary to pay attention to the risk of fuselage icing and turbulence on the flight route. Impact on rail traffic: Low visibility caused by rain and snow will affect the driver's prediction of the road ahead, and the threat of snow and ice to rails, signaling systems and communication equipment, as well as the risk of icing at crossings, will seriously affect the safety of railway traffic. In addition, airports and highways may be suspended or closed in the event of freezing rain, so you should check the road conditions and flight information before traveling.
Under the freezing warning, go out to protect yourself from doing so.
For the general public, they should try to avoid going out after freezing rain or after a freezing warning is issued. If you must go out, please take the necessary measures to protect yourself from the cold and skid, give priority to public transportation, minimize cycling or electric vehicles, and keep a safe distance from vehicles when going out on foot.
Drivers need to pay close attention to the road conditions, slow down, avoid accelerating overtaking, sharp turns or emergency braking, and should install tire snow chains in time.
Pedestrians and vehicles should avoid staying, walking, or driving under wires and towers with ice to prevent ice from falling.
Previously reported: **The Meteorological Observatory issued a freezing orange warning for the first time.