Society

Snow-free period ends a dry year in Beijing

By Yan Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-29 07:37

BEIJING - Although heavy snow has hit many parts of China in recent weeks, the national capital is still waiting for its first winter snow.

The dry early winter has renewed concerns over Beijing's long-standing water-shortage problem.

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No significant precipitation has been recorded in Beijing in the past two months, a sharp contrast to last year when heavy snows blanketed the city for days, according to Beijing meteorological bureau.

Besides pumping groundwater, Beijing relies mostly on rainfall to supply water for its population of nearly 20 million, as the city is not built near any major rivers or lakes.

"A snowfall before New Year's Day is unlikely," said Sun Jisong, a forecaster with the bureau.

The last time the first snowfall in winter was recorded after New Year's Day was 27 years ago, on Jan 29, 1984.

The snow-free start to winter concludes a dry year for Beijing.

The accumulated precipitation from January to late December this year amounted to 524 mm, 10 percent less than the average level since records began, according to the Beijing Water Authority.

The drought in the areas around Beijing since 1999 has deepened the water-shortage problem, nearly emptying small reservoirs and leaving the city increasingly dependent on groundwater for its water supply.