On the evening of May 14th, a sudden strong wind struck Zhengzhou, Henan Province, causing tricycles to topple over and numerous large trees to be uprooted. The local wind speed reached up to level 13 in some areas. In Zhenping County, Nanyang City, of the same province, similar strong winds were reported, resulting in fatal casualties.
According to the Zhengzhou Meteorological Observatory, due to the influence of cold air, from 8 p.m. on the 14th to 5 a.m. on the 15th, severe windy weather hit Zhengzhou. Gusts reached levels 9 to 10, with some localized gusts reaching level 11. A total of 131 automatic stations in Zhengzhou recorded peak wind speeds of level 7 and above. The highest wind speed, reaching level 13, was recorded at the Shanchuan Station in Gongyi City under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou, with a speed of 38.1 meters per second.
Videos circulating online showed the intense wind in Zhengzhou causing three-wheelers parked in residential areas to be blown over, large trees uprooted, bricks from buildings scattered, some cars hit by fallen trees, and outdoor diners struck by debris lifted by the strong winds.
Netizens commented that “many wheat crops have been flattened, and with rain forecasted in the coming days, wheat production is likely to decrease.” “For the past week, there have been two days when around 1 a.m., the wind was blowing so loudly that I felt the floor trembling.” “On the way to work in the mornings, I see trees knocked down by the wind.”
In a report by the Xinhua News Agency, on the 15th, strong winds also affected Zhenping County in Nanyang, Henan, causing a street lamp to collapse and hitting a cyclist. Local officials stated that there were no signs of life.
The “Da Xiang News” reported that from the night of the 14th to the early morning of the 15th, Zhengzhou experienced strong winds and showers. Following a night of severe winds, on the 15th morning, Zhengzhou was covered in fallen leaves. There were also short-term showers and thunderstorms, with the heaviest rainfall recorded in the Nanling area of Gongyi.
The Zhengzhou Meteorological Observatory only issued a blue alert for strong winds at 7:50 p.m. on the 14th, which was upgraded to a yellow alert at 1:40 a.m. on the 15th, then downgraded to a blue alert at 6:35 a.m. on the same day. It was expected that on the 15th, the main urban areas of Zhengzhou, the Aviation Port District, and the Shangjie District and its subordinate towns and streets would experience around level 4 northerly winds, gusting up to level 7, accompanied by dust storms.
On the 16th and 17th, the temperature in Zhengzhou is expected to rise, with highs exceeding 30°C on the 17th reaching up to 36°C.