Chinese authorities on Friday launched a Level-IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters.
From Friday to Sunday, multiple northern regions are expected to experience strong winds and sandstorms, the China Meteorological Administration said, while activating a Level-IV emergency response for major meteorological disasters related to strong winds and sandstorms.
On Friday, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued yellow warnings for strong winds and sandstorms, along with a blue alert for a cold wave.
The Hukou Waterfall in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, attracts many tourists, February 20, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
Strong winds are expected in areas including Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, as well as northern China, the northeast and the Shandong Peninsula, the NMC said.
Due to the strong winds, these regions and northern Henan are likely to experience blowing sand or floating dust, with some areas seeing sandstorms or heavy sandstorms.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The emergency response system also has four tiers, with Level I being the most severe.