On October 23, as the Frost’s Descent, the 18th solar term of the year, arrived in China, temperatures rapidly dropped in many regions, giving the impression that winter had arrived overnight. According to folk beliefs, this year’s Frost’s Descent carries three significant features, signaling a harsh winter ahead along with a potential drought, which could affect agricultural harvests.
The China Meteorological Administration reported that from the night of the 21st to the early morning of the 22nd, Hulunbuir City in Inner Mongolia experienced continuous rain and snow, leading to a sudden temperature drop of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, with the lowest temperature plummeting to minus 26.7 degrees Celsius. On the 22nd, parts of Liaoning also saw sleet or light snow, with several cities in western Liaoning dropping below 0 degrees Celsius at night. The central and western regions of Jilin also experienced a temperature drop of 4 to 8 degrees Celsius.
Due to the temperature plunge, some roads in Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, were covered in ice, prompting local authorities to enhance road surface patrols on highways, national and provincial roads, and key road sections.
As the country entered the Frost’s Descent term this morning, temperatures in many regions dropped by more than 10 degrees Celsius. In numerous areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, temperatures failed to reach 15 degrees Celsius, with some places hovering around just 10 degrees Celsius. Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou were not spared either, with many residents expressing their surprise online, saying, “Yesterday we were wearing short sleeves, and today we need to put on down jackets!”
According to folklore, if the Frost’s Descent term arrives before noon, it is called “early Frost’s Descent,” while after noon it is known as “late Frost’s Descent.” This year, the Frost’s Descent term occurred at 6:14 a.m., categorizing it as an “early Frost’s Descent.” There is a saying in folk culture that goes, “Early Frost’s Descent freezes cows to death, late Frost’s Descent is warm and toasty,” hinting at a severe winter this year.
Furthermore, this year, the double drop of temperatures coincided with the end of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. There is a proverb that says, “Frost’s Descent at the month’s end, drought follows in the next year,” indicating a likelihood of drought next year. Coupled with this year’s Frost’s Descent falling in the ninth month of the lunar calendar, known in folklore as the “September Frost’s Descent,” it implies that harvests may be impacted when the Frost’s Descent occurs in the ninth month of the lunar calendar.