Economic Observation Network According to the CCTV News app, Harbin, which has just experienced rare high temperatures, was hit by lightning, strong winds, and sandstorms this evening (31st). Many netizens reported experiencing "overnight darkness"! Why does Harbin experience consecutive high temperatures, sandstorms, thunderstorms, and strong winds in one day? What areas should we be vigilant about next?

The wind is too strong! Harbin is hit by a sudden sandstorm, with gusts of up to 12 levels in some areas

From 17:00 to 18:00 today, gusts of 8-10 levels occurred in eastern Inner Mongolia, central and western Heilongjiang, western Jilin, northern Liaoning and other areas, with local gusts of 35.4 meters/meter (12 levels) in Harbin, comparable to a typhoon!

Strong winds lifted up sand and dust, causing sandstorms to appear in the southeastern part of Inner Mongolia and the western part of Jilin, and spreading to the northeast. Harbin also experienced sandstorm weather this evening. At 18:00, the PM10 concentration in Harbin skyrocketed. According to videos taken by netizens, the sandstorm wall was tens of meters high, covering the sky, and there were thunderstorms in between, which was very shocking!

Why are there sandstorms in May?

It is not common to see sandstorms in Harbin in May. China's Chief Meteorological Analyst Xin Xin explained that today the high-altitude trough and surface cyclone are moving eastward and affecting the eastern and northeastern regions of Inner Mongolia, forming a frontal system in these areas.

There is a significant difference in temperature before and after the front. Many areas in Heilongjiang experienced a warming before the front this afternoon, with Harbin experiencing rare high temperatures. Afterwards, cold air and near surface cyclones brought strong winds, and under the collision of cold and warm, strong convective weather such as lightning and strong winds appeared. Xinxin said that this is equivalent to "cold air at quasi winter level encountering warm air at summer level, with strong winds and convection".

Pay attention to sandstorms and be alert to extreme winds!

The combination of cold air and strong winds with convective gusts can cause local strong winds in Northeast China to have a certain degree of extremism.

The Central Meteorological Observatory will continue to issue a yellow warning for severe convective weather this evening. From tonight to tomorrow day, some areas in southern Heilongjiang, central Jilin, western and northern Liaoning will experience thunderstorms and strong winds of level 10 or above, with maximum winds reaching level 11 or above. There may be tornadoes in some areas. It is expected that the main impact period of strong convection will be tonight.

At 18:40 today, the Heilongjiang Provincial Meteorological Observatory issued a tornado warning: it is expected that there will be thunderstorms and strong winds in the northern part of the Nenjiang River in Heihe City in the next 2 hours, and there may be tornadoes in some areas. The maximum gust wind can reach 10-11 levels, and in some areas it can reach 12-13 levels, accompanied by heavy hail.

Everyone should pay attention to the latest local forecasts and warning information in a timely manner, take relevant preventive measures in advance, try to minimize going out during strong wind periods, and pay attention to safety.