China faced a severe cold wave that started in December 2023, causing a significant drop in temperatures and leading to various problems. In several provinces, authorities imposed traffic restrictions on highways due to icy conditions, resulting in collisions. Forecasters predicted temperatures below minus 40 degrees Celsius in northeastern Heilongjiang, Xinjiang in the northwest, Inner Mongolia, and provinces like Gansu and Qinghai. The cold wave, moving from north to south, was expected to persist into the weekend, bringing a reduction in rain and snow.

Yichun in Heilongjiang may break a January 1980 temperature record, with potential temperatures dropping to minus 47.9 degrees Celsius next week. Henan province faced snowfall, icy roads, and heavy fog, causing accidents and traffic controls. Ningxia and Gansu provinces reported unsafe highways, leading to temporary closures. Shanghai issued its first cold wave warning, suspending ferries and buses due to forecasted low temperatures. Snow and ice affected southwestern Tibetan cities, prompting snow removal efforts. Beijing, Jiangxi, and Shanxi protected vegetable and fruit harvests from freeze damage. Despite the lifted blizzard warning in China, Liaoning, Jilin, and Shandong provinces expected heavy snowfall. Shenyang in Liaoning deployed workers and machines for snow removal until Saturday. The national forecast predicted reduced freezing rain on Friday, with Guizhou and Hunan’s higher terrain still experiencing it.