A strong cold front has swept across western and northern China, bringing snow, strong winds, and sharp temperature drops, with forecasters warning of more cold waves before the end of November.

Urumqi in Xinjiang recorded its third major snowfall this month on Tuesday, with temperatures falling to minus four degrees Celsius, prompting a yellow alert for icy roads. Heavy snow also hit Manas County, reducing visibility and forcing traffic police to guide vehicles. In Hejing County’s Tianshan mountains, blizzards cut visibility on a 50-km section of the G218 highway to under 50 meters, with 10 cm of snow triggering traffic controls and rescue efforts.

In nearby Qinghai, heavy snowfall covered Menyuan County, while rime along the Haomen River created frost-covered scenery stretching for dozens of kilometers.

Shanxi Province saw strong winds beginning Monday, with gusts reaching 24.4 meters per second and temperatures dropping to minus 10 degrees Celsius in some areas. More cold weather and occasional snow are expected in northern highlands.

In Inner Mongolia, drifting ice appeared along a 126-km stretch of the Yellow River in Bayannur, marking the start of the ice-flood season. Authorities have intensified round-the-clock monitoring and freeze-control measures.