The Beijing Meteorological Bureau does not expect any sandstorms in the city before Sunday.

 

"Sandstorms are unlikely before April 1, when a force five wind may hit the city," said bureau experts.

 

The China Meteorological Administration had predicted sandstorms for Beijing on Friday and Saturday, but Beijing experts disputed the forecast, pointing out that those two days will be cloudy and not very dry.

 

One to three millimeters of rain fell on most of Beijing on Thursday morning, lowering the possibility of sand and dust floating in the air.

 

China has reported four sandstorms so far this year. The first hit the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Gansu Province on Jan. 26.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2007)