On the evening of May 31, 2026, a massive sandstorm accompanied by thunderstorms and hail swept through Harbin with wind gusts reaching level 13, creating a scene akin to the end of the world and causing people outdoors to panic and scatter in all directions. The news quickly spread and sparked discussions online.
Around 5:30 PM on May 31, Harbin was unexpectedly hit by a rare and powerful sandstorm, with wind speeds ranging from level 10 to level 13 in the areas affected by the storm.
Videos shared by netizens showed a towering wall of sand reaching several tens of meters high, blotting out the sky and accompanied by frequent thunder. Some described seeing the sand wall approaching from the horizon until it engulfed them, turning daylight into darkness within minutes.
The sudden onslaught of the sandstorm caught many outdoor residents off guard. Videos taken by students showed confusion on campus as many initially didn’t understand what was happening until they realized it was a sandstorm, prompting them to hurriedly seek shelter indoors.
Other footage depicted trees being toppled on the streets, and some buildings had their walls and billboards blown off and crashing to the ground by the strong winds.
Power outages occurred in some areas due to the sandstorm. In one video, a roller coaster at an amusement park was left hanging midway due to the power outage, leaving riders stranded awaiting rescue.
In videos captured by locals, many expressed feeling as though they were witnessing the end of the world unfold before their eyes.
Some netizens reflected, “In just 10 short minutes, it felt like living through a century; humans are so insignificant in the face of nature, we should revere nature and life.”
Meteorological expert “Kepu Hang” from the mainland explained that the sandstorm in Harbin had three significant features. Firstly, it had exceptionally strong winds, with wind speeds exceeding level 10 in urban areas and reaching level 13 at Harbin’s He Kou Wetland Park, surpassing the intensity of Typhoon No. 6 currently active.
Secondly, it struck suddenly, catching people off guard and resulting in various losses.
Lastly, its occurrence at the end of May was highly unusual. Sandstorms are uncommon in Harbin, and when they do occur, they mostly happen during the transition from winter to spring.
Renowned mainland meteorologist, Blogger “Zhongqi Ai,” also remarked that the extreme climatic conditions of high temperatures, sandstorms, thunderstorms, strong winds, and rapid temperature drops in Harbin in May were exceptionally rare.
According to reports from mainland media, apart from Harbin, from 5 to 6 PM on May 31, parts of eastern Inner Mongolia, western Heilongjiang, western Jilin, northern Liaoning, experienced wind gusts of levels 8 to 10. Tornadoes were reported in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, and Songyuan, Jilin.