A policeman was seen struggling to move when smoothing traffic as severe winds and snow hit Xinjiang Altai Prefecture, Jimunai County, China.

In the video filmed by a passenger in a car, the policeman was trying to get close to the car ahead but was blown several metres away by the wind and snow.

It’s reported that since 3 pm on December 16, snowfall and windy weather started in the area, with the wind reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h and the temperature plummeting to below minus 28 degrees Celcius.

Visibility was reduced to less than 5 metres.

Jimunai County Public Security Bureau traffic police quickly organised personnel into the area for rescue. As of 11 pm on the same day, a total of 26 vehicles and more than 60 staff were dispatched for the rescue.

The video was filmed on December 16 and provided by local media with permission.

受新一轮冷空气影响，12月16日15时起，新疆阿勒泰地区吉木乃县辖区内出现降雪降温天气，风吹雪区域风力达10级，风口风力达11级以上，温度骤降至零下28度以下，能见度不足五米，国省道交通受阻，多部车辆和人员被困。吉木乃县公安局交警大队迅速出动，一边进行交通管制劝返人员车辆，一边组织人员进入风吹雪区域救援。连续十几个小时，救援民警有时被风吹雪刮出去数米远，有的路段交警只能下车引路，用人力铲雪开路。截至当日23时，共救援车辆26辆、60余人，劝返车辆100余辆。