Schools, expressways closed in northern China as authorities ponder smog

A weather forecast issued by the official website of China Meteorological Administration on 8 am of Tuesday shows that severe or heavy smog hit parts of northern China including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi, and some regions in eastern China including Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, as well as Central China's Henan province on Tuesday [Photo from official website of China Meteorological Administration]

Apart from Beijing, smog hit other parts of northern China including Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi, and some regions in eastern China including Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, as well as Central China's Henan province on Tuesday, according to official website of China Meteorological Administration.

The China Central Television (CCTV) headquarters is obscured by severe smog in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/IC]

Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau cited special weather conditions, coal use for heating, vehicle emissions as well as the accumulation and regional circulation of pollutants as reasons for the extraordinarily severe smog these few days.

It said it is difficult for pollutants to disperse since it has been humid and warm with little wind after severe snowstorms in northern China in Nov.

As the mercury drops in winter, the sharp increase in coal use and vehicle emissions also contributed to the air pollution. The neighboring regions like Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan were hit by smog simultaneously and the accumulated pollutants spread within the integrated region and make the situation worse to each region.

The weather forecast shows air quality will improve tomorrow as a new cold front approaches tonight.