BEIJING -- Some northern and central areas in China will experience smog for two days starting Friday, the national weather observatory said on Thursday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said in a statement that some central and southern parts of north China, the western areas of the region between the Yellow River and Huaihe River, as well as parts of Shaanxi Province will see light to moderate smog over the next two days, with some parts seeing heavy smog.

The NMC added that the weather in most areas of northern China will be relatively fine during the Lantern Festival, which falls on Thursday.

However, rain and snow will continue in south China provinces over the next two days.

The NMC warned that northern China will experience cold weather at night.