China issues blue alert for blizzard

BEIJING - China's meteorological authorities Saturday issued a blue alert for heavy snowstorms in the northern and western regions.

The National Meteorological Center said from Saturday evening to Sunday evening, snowstorms would hit parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei and Qinghai provinces, as well as Inner Mongolia and Tibet autonomous regions, with 5 to 10 centimeters of snowfall expected.

In some areas, blizzards are expected to drop up to more than 15 centimeters of snow, it warned.

The center asked local authorities to take precautions with roads, railways and electricity and telecommunication infrastructure and advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.