A billowing cloud of yellow dust has smothered many cities in northwestern China's Gansu Province – Jiuquan City, Zhangye City, Jinchang City and Wuwei City – engulfing them in a haze on Saturday.

China's national observatory renewed a yellow alert for sandstorms in some parts of the province. The country has a three-tier color-coded weather warning system for sandstorms, with orange representing the most severe warning, followed by yellow and blue.

According to the Gansu Public Security Government Service Platform, as of 11 a.m. on April 13, there was sandy and dusty weather in some places in Jiuquan and Zhangye and/or cloudy weather in other places. Temporary traffic control was implemented at the entrances of the toll stations along the G30 Lianhuo Expressway from Laosimiao to Linze. As of 1 p.m., traffic controls have been lifted.