Heavy smog expected in Beijing for rest of March

By James Griffiths, March 24, 2014

Beijing is due for several days of heavy smog, China Daily reports.

The city's air quality dropped significantly Monday morning and the pollution level reached grade five in some places -- indicating severe pollution -- on a six-grade pollution gauging system, according to Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center.

The mountain area in north Beijing maintained good air conditions until Sunday, while the six districts in downtown Beijing and the southern area already have suffered slight or even moderate pollution.

Readings of PM2.5, which measure airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, hit around 160 on Monday morning, the center said.

Heavy wind is becoming the most effective way to dispel smog in North China, where little rainfall is expected in spring.

No heavy wind is likely to hit the city until March 31, said Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

As of Monday afternoon, the city's air quality index (AQI) was around 300, indicating heavy smog.

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