BEIJING • The mercury dipped to minus 19.6 deg C at a meteorological station in the south of Beijing as a strong cold wave swept the city, marking the coldest morning in the Chinese capital since 1966.

The Nanjiao station, located in Beijing's Daxing District, is a national-level meteorological station founded in 1912.

Its data has been used by experts to make historical comparisons.

Early yesterday morning, half of Beijing's 20 national-level meteorological stations registered their lowest-ever early January temperatures, according to the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Station.

The cold wave has gripped Beijing since Wednesday, bringing drastic temperature drops and strong winds.

As at yesterday morning, the city's weather authorities had maintained blue alerts for continuous low temperatures and strong winds, the lowest level in China's four-tier colour-coded warning system.

The authorities have also advised the public to take precautions against the cold weather.

The cold wave is forecast to continue in Beijing until today, with the daily maximum temperature remaining below zero.

The temperature is expected to climb tomorrow, with the daily maximum temperature rising above 1 deg C.

XINHUA