Smog to Plague Beijing until Feb 12

Steven Schwankert | Feb 11, 2016 1:00 pm | Add a comment | 3103 reads

Beijing's old friend smog will be the main feature of Beijing's weather between Wednesday and Friday, with fireworks smoke and stagnant air cited as the cause.

Although fireworks use is down in the capital this year, due in part to restrictions on sales and a slowing economy, the finger is being pointed at pyrotechnics and stale air because the usual suspects -- factories in Hebei, vehicular traffic, and grilling chuan'r -- can hardly be blamed during the Spring Festival holiday.

PM 2.5 readings went as high as 284 at 6am on Wednesday, but had dropped to under 200 by 10.30am.

Friday is the last day that fireworks may be sold and used in Beijing this year, so expect air quality to be particularly poor Friday night. Wind is expected to return later Saturday and clear our skies well into next week.

Photo: Kentaro Iemoto/Wikimedia