Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    SHENZHEN recorded light to medium-level smog and mist Thursday, which is expected to continue until Monday when cold air from the north will disperse suspended pollutants, according to the city’s meteorological observatory.

    The forecast estimated that the city will experience three to five days of chill in January, with minimum temperatures expected to drop to 7 degrees Celsius. Two rounds of cold air will affect the city from Jan. 9 to 13 and from Jan. 19 to 21.

    The weather during the Spring Festival will be stable with the average temperature around 16-17 degrees Celsius.

    Since the beginning of the year, the city has recorded two smoggy days, Monday and Tuesday.

    In 2016, there were a total of 27 smoggy days, eight days fewer than the previous year and the least since 1992, thanks to frequent rainfall, active cold wind in the first quarter and sustained strong southerly winds that dispersed pollutants and purified the air, the observatory said.

    It added that Shenzhen sky has been becoming clearer since 2004, with the number of smoggy days continuing to decrease. The city has remained among the top 10 Chinese cities regarding air quality for years.

    Smog was the most talked-about word among residents of northern China over the past few days.

    A combination of pollution and heavy fog affected countless road, rail and air passengers across northern China on Wednesday.

    On Wednesday, heavy fog engulfed vast northern regions including Beijing, Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong, reducing visibility to 50 meters.

    The fog covered an area as large as 150,000 square kilometers, severely disrupting traffic.

    At least 32 cities have issued red alerts for air pollution, the highest emergency response in the four-tiered system, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The lingering smog has made Beijing extend its orange alert, which started Dec. 30, until Saturday.

    By 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, 154 flights had been canceled at Tianjin Binhai International Airport, with another 120 delayed. A total of 450 flights were scheduled to arrive and depart during the day. The city also closed all 20 freeways due to low visibility in the morning, although half were reopened at 2 p.m.

    At Shijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport in Hebei Province, 88 flights were canceled and 17 delayed by noon Wednesday.

    All transprovincial bus services from Beijing Capital International Airport were suspended.

    Along with the smog alerts, China also issued a red alert for fog Tuesday, the first since the government revised the fog warning system in 2013.

    The affected areas are forecast to have clean air beginning Sunday night.