Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    ICY rain affected Shenzhen yesterday for the first time in the city’s history.

    The cold air also brought the low temperature of the city to 1.7 degrees Celsius, the lowest since the founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in 1980. The lowest temperature the Wutong Mountain saw was minus 3.8 degrees Celsius yesterday.

    The observatory estimates the cold weather will last until tomorrow and the low temperature will drop to 1 degree Celsius today, the lowest in Shenzhen’s meteorological history, which began being recorded Feb. 11, 1957.

    “The average temperature of the city today, around 2 degrees Celsius, is the lowest in Shenzhen’s history. The ice particles were formed by the combination of cold air and precipitation. It’s now affecting southern and central areas of Guangdong,” the observatory said yesterday. The moist air added an extra chill, with temperatures not varying much between day and night time.

    A Futian resident surnamed Xiao drove to the Wutong Mountain looking for snow yesterday morning. Along with many others, he only found a light frost.

    “The road to the top of the mountain is very slippery because of the rain that turned to ice. The branches of the trees were weighed down with ice. It is the first time for me to see this in my 20 years in the city,” Xiao said.

    (Continued on P2)

    Many people thought the ice particles yesterday were sleet.

    “The crystal, hard ice particles, which often come along with light rain, are different from sleet which is formed in a cumulus cloud,” the observatory said.

    The cold weather, which started Friday, has boosted the sale of heaters, overcoats, and driven up vegetable prices.

    “Shenzhen is colder than Beijing because there is no interior heating in the homes. I had to find heaters I hadn’t used for years,” said Li, who just returned from a business trip in Beijing.

    The prices of leafed vegetables rose by 20 to 30 percent over the weekend, compared with prices the previous week.

    The observatory said temperatures will rise between Feb.27 and 30 as warm air from the south reaches the city.

    The average temperature during the Spring Festival holidays will hover around 15 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than that of the 2015 Spring Festival.

    The Shenzhen Medical Emergency Center reminds residents to be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning and to ensure ventilation when taking shower.

    In the past week, the center received 12 poisoning reports. A man, 25, in Shajing and a man, 33, in Pinghu died from poisoning.

    Shenzhen hospitals also saw a rise in patients with cardiovascular disease agitated by the cold air. Doctors remind residents, especially the old or pregnant women, to reduce outdoor activities and keep warm.

    Homeless who need shelter can be reporter to the Shenzhen Civil Affairs Bureau at 8243-3326.