Cold wave forecast to hit northern areas

Another wave of cold air is expected to rage through northern China from Friday to Monday, dropping temperatures in most parts in the region to new lows, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The temperature will fall up to 8 C in North China, Northeast China and the area between the Yellow and the Huaihe rivers. With temperatures dropping up to 12 C, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region will be the worst hit, it said in a media release on Friday.

"Due to frequent cold air, the temperature in most parts in northern China will reach a new low in the second half of the year in the coming week," it said, adding that the highest daily temperature will fall below 20 C in most areas and will be even lower than 10 C in some areas in Northeast China and Northwest China.

Before the arrival of the cold air, the meteorological condition is forecast to be favorable for the formation of haze in central and southern parts of North China. Meanwhile, heavy fog will engulf southern Beijing and central Hebei province from early Saturday to Sunday night, reducing visibility to less than 500 meters in some areas.

It said the haze and fog will fade away as the cold air arrives in the region on Monday.

The Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau said the capital will generally suffer moderate levels of air pollution on Friday and Saturday and some areas may experience heavy pollution.

While meteorological conditions characterized by stable atmosphere and high humidity will be unfavorable for the dispersal of air pollutants, low-speed wind from the south will bring more pollutants to Beijing, further exacerbating the situation, it said.

According to Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, the density of PM 2.5 particulate matter reached 118 micrograms per cubic meter at 2 pm on Friday in the capital's urban area.

The National Meteorological Center also said the country is tending to receive less precipitation in the coming three days, though western China has received more precipitation than normal since Sept 9.

While weak in intensity, rainfall will continue in the region in the coming days. "People in the region may hardly see a sunny day," it said.