Sandstorms and dusty weather are expected to hit parts of northern China on Tuesday, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) forecast on Monday.

Due to a cold air stream from Mongolia and scant rainfall, airborne dust will increase significantly in middle and western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern Shaanxi Province, western Jilin and Liaoning provinces. The forecast also said that strong sandstorms would hit the middle Inner Mongolia region.

From Tuesday, strong winds will blast north China and certain areas in this region will see a temperature drop of four to eight degrees Celsius. Middle and eastern Inner Mongolia and middle and western parts of northeast China will experience a temperature drop of 10 to 16 degrees Celsius.

The CMA said earlier this month that the country was likely to experience more frequent and severe dusty weather and sandstorms than last year.

A sandstorm is defined as dusty weather with a visibility below 1,000 meters.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2008)