Authorities in Beijing have introduced emergency measures to cope with extreme winds sweeping through the capital, including suspending ground-level metro services once gusts speed reach Force 9 or higher.

Beijing issued an orange alert for strong winds, the second-highest in the four-tiered warning system, on Thursday. This was the first time in a decade that Beijing warned residents of extreme winds and a sharp temperature drop from Friday afternoon to Sunday.

The strongest winds will hit on Saturday, with temperatures dropping to 14 C, authorities said.

The transportation department said they would organize train movements during strong wind conditions on the ground and elevated sections to ensure safe metro operations, including controlling train speeds.

Once wind speeds reach Force 9 (24.4 meters per second) or higher, services on the ground and elevated lines will be suspended.

All park water transport services in the city will be suspended during the intense wind warning period, and buses will adjust their speeds or suspend services as necessary.

Moreover, this strong wind is anticipated to impact the operations of the capital's airport, leading to potential flight cancellations or delays.

The Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau has activated emergency plans and deployed over 40,000 forest rangers to conduct comprehensive inspections of parks, green spaces, garden facilities, and trees across the city to mitigate safety hazards.

Additionally, park scenic areas will promptly suspend outdoor amusement facilities based on the warning information and current weather conditions.

Beijing also issued an orange alert for forest fire danger across the city. As of 10 pm on Thursday, nine districts including Mentougou, Fangshan, Haidian and Shijingshan, had issued red alerts for forest fire danger, prohibiting outdoor fires.

The Beijing Emergency Management Office advises all citizens to prioritize safety by avoiding entering mountainous or forested areas during high winds.