BEIJING - A cold wave is expected to sweep southern China and bring rain to most southern regions over the next 24 hours, China's meteorological authority said Tuesday.

The cold wave moving southwest is going to meet with warm moist air, and bring light to moderate rain to most regions south of Yangtze River, central and southern Guizhou province, and south of Yunnan province, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website.

Temperatures in most parts of southern China will fall by 6 to 9 degrees Celsius under the influence of the cold wave and rain. Temperature in Hefei, provincial capital of Anhui, will plunge by 11 degrees.

Sandstorms will hit some parts of Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia during the coming day.

Temperatures in northern China will rise and most regions will see sunny or cloudy weather. Beijing's highest temperature will rise to 18 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.