Rare freezing weather to hit Spring Festival rush

Rare rain and snowfall, the most complex weather process since 2008, is expected to affect China's Spring Festival travel rush, Weather China said on Monday.

Starting on Wednesday, massive freezing weather is expected to sweep across the central and eastern regions of the country, bringing with it the longest duration of rain and snowfall this winter.

Meteorologists said the influx of warm and moist air from the southwest will result in extensive coverage and prolonged duration of rain and snow.

Southern and central regions, particularly along the Yangtze River, will experience rain with widespread thunderstorm. Northern areas, however, will undergo a transition from rain to snow, with the potential for significant snowfall, especially on Feb 3 and 4.

The last time China faced such a challenging weather scenario during the Spring Festival travel period was in 2016. However, experts assure that this year's event, while complex, is not expected to reach the extreme conditions witnessed in 2008, which saw prolonged freezing rain and low temperatures.

The timing of this weather event is of particular concern as it coincides with the peak travel period of the Spring Festival. Authorities estimate that around 9 billion trips will be made during this year's Spring Festival travel rush with total passenger volume across railways, roads, waterways and air travel expected to exceed 1.8 billion people.

Despite the challenging conditions, forecasters said the situation will improve after Feb 7, offering some relief to travelers as clear weather sets in along the Yangtze River and its northern regions.