Society

Sandstorms to abate in North China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-12 17:25

BEIJING - China's meteorological authority said on Thursday that sandstorms sweeping across parts of North China would abate over the next few days, but rain would continue to pelt the country's south.

A woman covers her face while walking across a street in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, May 12, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

A bird's eye view of part of Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, May 12, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

The sandstorms, which are moving eastward, would come to an end in North China over the next two days. But temperatures in parts of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Northeast China would drop a further 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement posted on its website.

The storms that hit North China had reduced visibility in some parts of Inner Mongolia to 100 to 300 meters.

Meanwhile, rain in the south of the country showed no signs of easing. Light to moderate rain is forecast for parts of southwest China and areas south to the Yangtze River over the next 24 hours. While, heavy rain is expected to hit parts of south China as well as Guizhou and Hunan provinces, the statement said.