CHINA WARNED ABOUT STRONG WINDS

Gale-force winds are expected to hit the northern parts of China, and hundreds of flights have been cancelled and trains suspended, including the airport’s express subway.

Winds up to 150km/h are expected to continue through the weekend and will hit Beijing's capital. It’s set to become the strongest wind in Beijing for more than half a century.

Historic sites and tourist attractions have been closed as the government urged millions of people to stay indoors.

Local authorities stepped in to reinforce some old trees and trim others as parks were also closed. By Friday, almost 300 trees had fallen over in the capital.

Authorities advised the city’s 22 million residents to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel.

China usually experiences winds with sand and dust from Mongolia during spring, but the current gale force winds are due to a cold vortex system over Mongolia.

The China Meteorological Administration says a level 11 wind can cause serious damage, while a level 12 wind bring extreme destruction.

This weekend’s winds are expected to range between levels 11 and 13.

One media outlet gave locals something to chuckle about when it warned that people weighing 50kg or less could be “easily blown away”.

This led to several social media posts showing videos of locals eating to avoid being blown away.

Image credit: Hindustan Times