BEIJING - As most parts of South China continue to expect higher temperatures, parts of the west, northwest and northeast will be hit by snow or sleet, the national observatory said Tuesday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast temperatures to rise by four to six degrees Celsius in most parts of southern China on Wednesday.

However, parts of Qinghai province will see moderate snow or sleet from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening, while parts of Tibet autonomous region and Jilin province will be hit by heavy snow.

Slight snow or sleet will hit some parts of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Tibet, and Sichuan from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening, said the NMC.

Most of the South China Sea will be swept by strong gales from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening, it said.