As you may have read in the news, southern China has been badly hit by a rash of unusual snow storms, the worst in at least thirty years.

Local authorities were unprepared to deal with the aftermath of the storms, with snow deep as a foot in regions where snow is so rare, there is no equipment for clearing or salting roads. Deaths have been reported in some southern cities where, used to somewhat balmier weather, apartment buildings have no heating.

The situation is made all the more catastrophic by the fact that hundreds of millions of Chinese living in cities on the coast, from migrant workers to white collar professionals, are trying to go back to their home towns and villages for the Chinese New Year, which starts next week.

Snow has left nearly 30 million people across southern China without power and millions more trampling and elbowing their way onto the few trains and buses still in service.

In Guangzhou, the capital of a major manufacturing region, hundreds of thousands of workers are sleeping outside the train station in temporary structures.

Although authorities were clearly unprepared for this unusual weather, they've been mobilizing anyone and everyone to pitch and try to restore power and clear snow-logged roads. The Guardian reports some 500,000 army troops have been drafted to, among other things, shovel snow.

More snow is expected to fall in the coming days.

By Jennifer Brea, About.com Guide to World News