China rings in New Year choked by heavy smog. See photos

Tuesday, January 3, 2017, 3:55 PM - Heavy smog continues to choke northern China, forcing officials to issue the first red alerts of 2017 for more than 20 cities.

A Red alert is the highest tier of a four-colour warning system, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau's website. On New Year's Day, the smog exceeded the maximum PM2.5 level of 500 micrograms per cubic metre on the U.S. Embassy's Air Quality Index.

PM 2.5 indicates particles that are 2.5 microns in diameter or less, making them more likely to become lodged in lungs. The World Health Organization recommends a maximum daily level of 20 micrograms. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, levels higher than 300 micrograms per cubic meter are considered "hazardous."

WINTER IS HERE: With La Niña helping shape global patterns what will Canadians expect from winter? Find out with The Weather Network’s 2016 Winter Forecast | FORECAST & MAPS HERE

Dozens of flights were cancelled over the weekend in Beijing and Tianjin, a metropolis located south of the capital, Reuters reports. Highways and bus routes were also closed due to poor visibility.

While there has been somewhat of a reprieve with levels dropping below "hazardous" to "very unhealthy" Tuesday, there is more thick smog in the forecast for the area. It is expected to persist through Thursday.

Smog alerts have been issued since mid-December, which is typical for northern China as winter is the most polluted season in the country due to spikes in coal burning to provide heat to millions of people.

China has held over 2,600 local officials accountable for poor environmental protection efforts in recent inspections, Xinhua news reports. Inspectors have imposed fines totaling 243.03 million yuan (nearly $47 million CAD).

Here are some photos that show parts of the country blanketed in the dangerous smog.

SOURCE: Reuters | Xinhuanet