It's hard to believe it's winter in Beijing as the temperature hit 14 degrees Celsius Tuesday, the highest for the same day in each of the past 40 years.

Experts with the Beijing Municipal Observatory said the was unusual but not abnormal.

On December 24, 1996, the temperature reached 15.6 degrees Celsius and the temperature for December 3, 1989 was as high as 19.5 degrees.

According to the local meteorological station, the highest temperature for Monday was 10.7 degrees.

But local weather forecasts say a gale will hit the city from Wednesday night, which will bring the temperature down.

Experts also advised residents to prepare for dry and windy weather before the end of the year.

(People's Daily December 24, 2003)