Sea ice off E China coast expands after cold snap

Floating ice over the Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea off China\'s eastern coast expanded to measure 62 nautical miles at its maximum outer edge due to even lower temperatures driven by a fresh cold snap, the sea forecast center said Saturday. The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center issued a sea ice blue alert at 4 p.m., forecasting the maximum outer edge of floating ice over the Liaodong Bay to remain at 60 to 70 nautical miles in the coming several days. A fresh air front Friday caused a drastic temperature drop in the Bohai Sea along the northern part of China, resulting in a quick build-up of sea ice, according to the center. The center urged relevant personnel and departments to be prepared for worsening sea ice, as temperatures are expected to remain low in the coming several days. According to the center, the maximum outer edge of floating ice in the northern part of the Yellow Sea is currently at 22 nautical miles while that in the Laizhou Bay and the Bohai Bay remains around 10 and 14 nautical miles, respectively.