4月15日傍晚，北京出现沙尘天气。北京市气象台17时40分发布沙尘暴黄色预警信号，受沙尘影响，可吸入颗粒物（PM10）浓度高，预计为重度污染。据报道，北京城区上一次出现沙尘暴还是在2002年3月20日，此次大范围沙尘暴是近13年来北京遭遇的最强沙尘天气。
People wearing masks walk in a strong sandstorm in Beijing on April 15, 2015. Beijing was hit by moderate gale from Wednesday evening to night, and Beijing Meteorological Observatory has issued a yellow alert for sandstorm on Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)