For many, snow is an integral part of winter but Beijing residents might go without it this season. Statistics from the city's weather center show that the capital's current waiting period for snow has exceeded a 60-year record. Experts say the possibility of a fall remain slim.

According to information dating back from the 1950's, there have only been four times when Beijing's first winter snow arrived after the New Year. And this year's winter period has surpassed the longest on record. Missing a date with snow might be a blessing for some, but without snowfall, a future drought could become a real concern. Official figures show that the water level in one of the city's major reservoirs has been reduced to only one tenth of its total capacity. Snow won't fill the reservoirs, but the continuing lack of rainfall will make life difficult for daily chores.