Wang Jingli wangjingli0715@163.com THE city’s updated version of the rule on meteorological disaster warnings will take effect Monday, officials said at a news conference held Thursday at the Civic Center in Futian District. The new rule added seven warnings to make the total number of the disaster alerts reach 38 in 14 categories. Three types of warnings, specifically for thunderstorms and strong winds, forest fires and icy roads, were added under the new rule. The alert for thunderstorms and strong winds will be issued when the city sees both downpours and gales under a severe convective weather. The original alert for strong winds will be changed as the alert for strong monsoons, which refers to strong winds brought by cold airs or southwest monsoon. Though icy roads have been rare in the city, only seen in the Wutong Mountain area in 2008 and 2016, the addition is given for the possibility of seeing icy roads in the future due to climate change and to be in line with the provincial warning rules, according to officials with Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory. Considering that Shenzhen has high natural disaster risks, the new rule also adds related preventative measures based on different weather alerts. Meanwhile, the city will issue weather alerts for residents living in different districts but will not issue notices to suspend classes separately in districts. It is said that the move will better safeguard students’ health and safety and manage teaching activities so as to ensure quality education. It is worth noticing that Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone will also implement the new rule starting Monday. The last time when Shenzhen revised the warning rule was in 2015. |