Temperatures recorded since the end of November, 2012, have marked the lowest temperatures to hit China in 28 years, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said today.
Temperatures have averaged minus 3.8 degrees Celsius since the last 10 days of November, about 1.3 degrees lower than the previous recorded average, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Temperatures in northeast China hit a 43-year low and stood at minus 15.3 degrees Celsius, about 3.7 degrees below the previous recorded average.
North China experienced its coldest winter in 42 years, with temperatures hitting minus 7.4 degrees Celsius, 2.4 degrees lower than the average level in previous years.
Temperatures in north China are expected to pick up next week, although much of south China will continue to experience cloudy skies, rain and snow, the CMA's National Meteorological Center said.
About 1,000 ships have been left stranded in the water as a thick layer of sea ice has developed on Laizhou Bay in east China's Shandong Province due to extreme cold.
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Zheng Dong, chief meteorologist at the Yantai Marine Environment Monitoring Centre said the ice expanded to 291 square km this week and is continuing to grow.
Zheng said the ice this year is the worst the area has experienced in three years.
Heavy fog has also continued to shroud China's southwestern Yunnan province capital Kunming, delaying over 283 flights and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.