Extreme cold in northern China triggers alert as experts warn of severe weather risks

China on Saturday issued a low-temperature alert, warning the mercury could drop to historic lows in some areas of the country, local news agencies reported.

The freezing weather comes on the heels of this winter’s first snowfall in Beijing, where the public transport system faced delays and flights were cancelled.

Temperatures will drop to as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the north-eastern provinces and in the western region of Xinjiang, along with Inner Mongolia and the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai, according to forecasts from China’s National Meteorological Centre.

The freezing temperatures follow a summer of record heat and devastating flooding in northern China, as climate experts warn of an increased risk of extreme weather caused by global warming.