A sandstorm swept over northern China early Thursday morning causing the AQI in Beijing to skyrocket to 905. Just look outside and you'll find that the capital is currently enveloped in a blanket of nasty (and hazardous) dust and smog.
PM2.5 levels soared to 630 micrograms per cubic meter in some areas of the city early Thursday morning. At the time of writing, the current PM2.5 reading is 555, and PM10 levels have reached the 1,000 mark in parts of the city, according to AirVisual.
The storm most heavily impacted a remote area near the Mongolian border. However, air quality in Beijing is expected to be impacted until Friday evening, Channel News Asia reports. Beijing authorities issued a blue alert at 5.30am Thursday due to the sandstorm.
Like catkins, sandstorms are a common occurrence in Beijing (and northern China) during spring. Winds hurl across the Gobi Desert, carrying sand and dust particles with them to far-flung cities like Beijing.
Beijing was hit by another, less severe, sandstorm on April 17, just over two weeks ago.
Our advice is to keep your facemask handy today and tomorrow.
[Images via Reuters, AQIcn.org]
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