Cold wave to bring snow risks across northern China

China's agriculture and meteorological authorities on Tuesday issued a joint snow disaster alert, warning that a cold wave from Wednesday to Saturday will bring strong winds, falling temperatures and widespread rain and snow.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Meteorological Administration forecast light to moderate snow or sleet in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Northwest China, North China, the Huanghuai area, central Inner Mongolia and parts of Northeast China. Some areas could see heavy snow or blizzards.

The conditions could cause greenhouses to collapse under the weight of snow and lead to freezing damage to vegetables and livestock, according to the alert.

From Friday to Saturday, facility agriculture and animal husbandry in most of Shanxi province and parts of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces face a relatively higher risk of snow disasters, prompting a yellow alert. Southern Shanxi, southwestern Hebei, parts of northern and western Henan, and eastern Jilin face a high risk and are under an orange alert.

The warning urges local governments and producers to reinforce vegetable greenhouses, livestock pens and other facilities in advance, add insulation and promptly remove accumulated snow to prevent structural damage and freezing of crops and animals.

It also calls for scientific control of temperature and humidity inside greenhouses, proper heating and irrigation for vegetables, and stronger measures to prevent crop diseases and animal epidemics.