Beijing's weather: Coldest in 40 years....

Global warming hits China...

A freezing cold front swept over much of northern China on Sunday with snowstorms snarling traffic and air travel, while some of the coldest temperatures in decades were forecast for coming days.

Snow storms were expected to continue through Monday as the mercury was set to plunge in the coming 48 hours, the Beijing meteorological station said.

Gale force winds sweeping down from Siberia could result in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius (minus three degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital on Monday and Tuesday, it added.

According to the Beijing Youth Daily, such temperatures would be the coldest in the capital in 40 years.