Chaos in China as cold vortex from Mongolia brings strongest April winds in decades

Flights cancelled, train services suspended and tourist attractions closed as weather service says wind speeds could surpass records set in 1951

Strong winds caused havoc in Beijing and parts of northern China on Saturday, forcing hundreds of flights to be cancelled, attractions to close and rail lines to be suspended, state media said.

The powerful winds stemmed mainly from a cold vortex system formed over Mongolia that was moving east and south, sweeping across northern China from Friday and through the weekend, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said.