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China issues strong smog warning
December 7, 2013, 8:25 am

The worst affected were Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Henan provinces which suffered lingering smog for six consecutive days [Xinhua]

The worst affected were Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Henan provinces which suffered lingering smog for six consecutive days [Xinhua]

China’s weather body has upgraded a previous yellow alert to the more serious orange alert for worsening smog in the central and eastern regions.

Lingering smog in these regions is expected to end on December 9, according to the China Meteorological Center (NMC).

Heavy smog swept China’s central and eastern regions in early December. The worst affected were Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Henan provinces which suffered lingering smog for six consecutive days.

In Jiangsu province, the capital city saw levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers, reach a reading of 354 on Wednesday, said Nanjing-based news portal news.longhoo.net.

Levels above 300 are considered hazardous, while the World Health Organization recommends a daily level of no more than 20.

A weak cold front on Saturday will do little to reduce the smog, said the NMC forecast.

China has a four-tier warning system for extreme weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Temperatures will drop by at least 6 to 8 degrees Celsius from Sunday to Wednesday, warned the meteorological department.