China renews blue alerts for sandstorms, strong winds

BEIJING -- China's meteorological authority on Saturday morning renewed blue alerts for sandstorms and powerful winds, warning of adverse weather conditions across multiple regions over the next 24 hours.

For the sandstorm alert, blowing sand or floating dust is expected in parts of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Shanxi province, Hebei province and Beijing, all in North China, the National Meteorological Center said.

People have been advised to wear masks or scarves to protect their eyes and respiratory tracts, while drivers are urged to slow down and exercise extra caution due to low visibility.

Strong winds are forecast in areas including parts of Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang, from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, according to the center.

Pedestrians and drivers of vehicles in the affected areas are urged to avoid spending time under or near tall buildings, billboards, temporary structures and trees, the center noted.

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