The Chinese people in many regions are expected to spend their National Day holiday in cold air, according to a weather forecast the Central Meteorological Station released Monday.

Most regions of the country would have clear or cloudy weather in the following ten days, when the temperature in the north would be close to or lower than that in normal years.

The eastern parts of northwest and southwest China would have rainfall during the week-long National Day holiday, which begins on Oct 1.

According to the weather report, the eastern part of northwest and north China would encounter rainfalls and strong winds from Monday to Wednesday. Temperatures in these regions are expected to drop by some 10 degrees Celsius afterwards.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the eastern part of southwest China, the Hanshui River valley and the northern part of northeast China would have rain or sleet, with some regions in southwest China expecting heavy rains on Oct 2.

On Oct 3, most regions of the country would be clear and cloudy, with possible drizzle or shower in the eastern parts of southwest and northwest China.

The western part of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, southwest China and north China will have rainfall on Oct 4 and 5.

From Oct 6 to 8, regions north of the Yangtze River would have rainfall, with southwest China having showers or thunder showers.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2003)