The temperatures have been lower than average, affecting many Chinese residents, especially those in the south, as it had disrupted transport, power and water. -- PHOTO: AP

The colder-than-usual weather, a sudden reverse of a general trend of warming, disrupted transport, power, water and everyday life for many Chinese residents, especially those in the south.

'We underestimated the duration and severity of the weather and failed to pre-evaluate its impact on the transport and power sectors,' Ms Jiao Meiyan, a spokesman for the China Meteorological Administration was quoted as saying by the official China Daily.

Last month, temperatures in central Wuhan and Changsha were 2.5 and 2.4 degrees Celsius lower than their respective historical averages in the same month between 1971-2000, according to the administration.

Southwestern China's Chongqing was also colder than usual, with average temperatures 1.3 degrees lower than the historical average.

Average temperatures in Guangzhou, a manufacturing hub in southern China, were 0.7 degrees below normal.

Temperatures last month in northern Tianjin, northeastern Shenyang and eastern Shanghai were also lower than their respective historical averages.

Colder-than-expected weather pushed up electricity demand, while supply of the energy was either halted by broken transmission lines and pylons, or cut by authorities due to limited flows, leaving millions of people in the south miserable over the Lunar New Year holiday.

Power supply to major cities affected by the recent harsh weather had resumed and the country aimed to complete normal grid operations by the end of March, the government has said.

The meteorological administration had forecast eight of the 10 major cities would be warmer in January, with temperatures in southern Guangzhou and Fuzhou seen noticeably higher than usual. -- REUTERS