Most of North China was hit by sandstorms yesterday for the fifth time this year.

Sandstorms have now become a frequent occurrence much earlier in the year than formerly.

China's Central Meteorological Observatory yesterday issued a warning that North China - including Beijing and Tianjin, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province - East China's Shandong Province and Central China's Henan Province will experience sandstorms or drifting sand today.

Heavy sandstorms will also hit central parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and northern parts of Hebei Province, said the observatory.

After three days of high temperatures, the sky over Beijing was turned gray by sands blow from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Beijing's hot weather and little rain have made the land drier and produced more dust than usual, said Li Tingfu, an expert from the Beijing Meteorological Observatory. Floating sands yesterday were blown with winds of force 5 to 6.

But contradicting the Central Meteorological Observatory's predictions, Li said Beijing would be free of sandstorms today, with winds of force 4 expected tomorrow.

Beijing saw its highest temperature for mid-March in 50 years on Tuesday, when the mercury 23.5 C.

The Central Meteorological Observatory said temperatures in North China will drop sharply after tomorrow, and areas in Northeast China will not see temperatures rise until the end of March.

(China Daily 03/22/2001)