Beijing issues first major smog alert of the winter

Pollution levels are expected to range from 'unhealthy' to 'hazardous' until Wednesday evening, before rising once again to unsafe levels on the weekend

After a fairly prolonged period of clear skies and reasonably low pollution levels, authorities have issued an orange alert (for air quality classed as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups') in anticipation of several days of choking smog. 

Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the warning has triggered stringent stipulations for heavy industries to reduce output by 30 to 50 percent, just as last week's plunging temperatures spurred heating demands.

Beijing's air quality forecast. Source: World Air Quality Index.

This latest alert comes just as Beijing authorities reported dramatic improvements in air quality last year, attributed to small-scale bans on coal burning, favourable weather and more rigorous curbs on industrial production.

For those of you anxiously waiting for the smog to dip back down, pollution levels are expected to range from 'unhealthy' to 'hazardous' until Wednesday evening – with a brief respite on Thursday morning – before rising once again to unsafe levels on the weekend. So don't hold your breath.

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