China Hit by SandstormsStrong winds filled with dust particles blew through northwest China's Qinghai Province Monday morning.It was the second sandstorm to hit Qinghai since March 3. Almost all the local meteorological stations reported strong breezes today, some even encountered gale-force gusts. The average temperature here dropped by 5 degrees Centigrade, and it is estimated that the dusty windstorm will subside on March 7. The Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang Uygur and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces also experienced windstorms and dusty weather Sunday. It is estimated that the sandstorms will continue to affect the northern and western parts of north China, and possibly Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province. Meteorologists said this type of weather is caused by the frequent movement of cold air over the regions and increased dryness due to rising temperature in spring, making surface soil easily blown away. Another round of windy, dusty weather is expected to arrive in China around March 11, according to meteorologists. |
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