A snowplough removes snow from No.319 Provincial Road in Altai, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday, on December 15, 2008. Heavy snow arrived in Altai on Monday. Snowploughs were dispatched to clear the snow to allow access to transportation.

Two cold fronts will sweep the northern part of China from Tuesday, bringing strong winds and a temperature drop of 6 to 8 degrees Celsius or more, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Tuesday.

The NMC said it would be the fifth cold front the northern area is expected to brace for in December, and it would be stronger.

Inner Mongolia and northeastern part of the country will see a temperature drop by 8 to 12 degrees Celsius, and are forecast to have snow.

Strong cold front will also affect Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest, and bring winds, snow and temperature drop on December 18. In the next three days, the cold frond will move southward and eastward. Snow, strong winds and colder temperature are expected.

NMC Experts said snowfall would ease drought in north China and improve the air quality.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2008)