Extreme Weather Knows No Borders
18 APRIL 2025
By: SUN XINYI
Editor: ZHANG YUANZHE
The impact of this Chinese windstorm is huge.
In April 2025, northern China was hit by a once-in-a-decade storm. According to the China National Meteorological Administration (CNMA), parts of Beijing experienced 14-magnitude gusts of wind, while visibility in western and southeastern Inner Mongolia dropped to less than 300 metres due to strong sandstorms. As the storm swept through the region, more than 21,000 trees were uprooted and more than 3,000 flights were cancelled across the country, causing an estimated 800 million yuan in economic damage. Xu Huazhuang, a student currently attending Beijing Agricultural University, said, “It's really windy out there, it's the first time I've experienced such strong winds after being in Beijing for several years, and we can't leave the dormitory.” What's interesting is that just as China struggled with high winds and sand, Malaysians were also caught off guard by the extreme weather. In Puchong, flash floods inundated roads and shopping centers, throwing traffic into chaos. This parallel experience reminds us that climate disasters are not confined to national borders - they are everywhere and often occur simultaneously.
Why should Malaysians care about storms in China? Because they reflect a global pattern of increasingly unpredictable weather. While we may not see dust storms in Kuala Lumpur, we are no strangers to sudden floods, fallen trees or unbearable heat waves. As the 2024 UN climate report warns, "For every 0.5°C of warming, the energy of extreme weather events increases exponentially. What is happening in Beijing today could be a preview of what we will see next.
The impact of this Chinese windstorm is huge.
So the question is: Is climate change the driving force behind all these extreme events? More importantly for Malaysians - are we prepared to face more unpredictable and destructive weather patterns in the coming years?
As a student studying in Malaysia, I believe that while we may not be able to control the weather, we can certainly be better prepared. First and foremost, we should raise public awareness of climate risks, especially among young people who often underestimate the effects of extreme weather. Educational institutions can incorporate climate preparedness into orientation programs or student activities to help students understand how to respond to sudden floods, storms, or heat waves. Second, universities and local governments should work together to develop basic emergency response plans. These include ensuring that dormitories have backup power and water, that students know emergency contacts, and that campus security guards are trained for climate-related disruptions. Finally, we need clearer and faster weather alerts, especially through channels that young people often use-such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or university mobile apps. Real-time updates can have a huge impact in minimizing confusion and panic.
As Associate Professor Haliza Abdul Rahman of Universiti Putra Malaysia once pointed out, even when the Meteorological Department issues heavy rainfall warnings, local authorities in the Klang Valley often fail to follow up with flood alerts in a timely manner, leaving residents unprepared. Similarly, weather expert Azizan mentioned that although Malaysia has a reliable flood warning system, it is not always utilised effectively. ‘Just look at Kelantan on the east coast,’ he said. "They have good alerts - you can get real-time updates on Facebook and elsewhere. I don't know why Selangor doesn't do that.
China's storms are not just a Chinese problem. It shows that climate disasters are no longer limited by geography. Whether it's wind, rain or heat, the chain of climate devastation crosses borders and reaches every corner of the globe, including Malaysia. The question is not whether the next extreme weather event will come, but whether we are ready for it.
Mengenai kami
Nadi Bangi adalah portal akhbar makmal Program Komunikasi Media, Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Sebarang pandangan atau kandungan yang disiarkan tidak mewakili UKM. Ditubuhkan dengan objektif untuk menjadi suara warga kampus, Nadi Bangi menyajikan laporan berita, rencana khas, serta pandangan kritis berkenaan isu semasa yang berlaku di dalam dan luar kampus.