N. Chinese provinces embrace first winter snow
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The first snow of this winter fell on several northern Chinese provinces beginning Sunday night, bringing some good news to drought-affected areas.
Slight snow began falling in Ji'nan and Yantai, two cities in east China's Shandong Province Monday morning, while other cities saw freezing rains, said the local meteorological bureau.
"The snowfall will help alleviate the drought in Shandong, which hasn't received a drop of rain in two months," said Yin Changwen, spokesman for Shandong Headquarter for Flood and Drought Control.
"But given the scanty precipitation so far, the impact may be limited," said Yin.
The snowfall in most regions in Shandong measured only 1 to 3 millimeters, but heavier snow has been forecast for the coming two days, said the National Meteorological Center (NMC) on its website.
In the northern province of Hebei, 49 cities and counties reported slight snow starting late Sunday night.
Most parts of Hebei received less than 2 millimeters of snow, which is expected to clear up on Tuesday, said Guo Yingchun, spokesperson for Hebei Weather Forecast Bureau.
In Beijing's neighboring Tianjin Municipality, the snowfall on Sunday night has frozen the roads and forced the temporary suspension of several highways.
In the Chinese capital Beijing, however, the snow, which was predicted on Sunday night, did not arrive, disappointing expectant citizens.
Compared to last winter's first snow that gripped northern Chinese cities with gusty winds and heavy snowfalls in early November, this winter's snow came late and was too mild to lift north China out of its lingering drought, experts said.
However, as northern Chinese rejoiced at the belated snowfall, heavy snow continued to batter northeast China as the new week began. In Liaoning Province, 18 highways were closed and over 3,000 passengers were stranded at the Dalian Airport following Sunday's snowstorm.
Since last weekend, cold fronts have swept through most parts of northern China, causing sharp declines in temperatures and increased precipitation.
The NMC Monday renewed its blue alert, warning of further temperature plummet across China in the next three days. Rain and sleet were also forecast for central and southern China as the cold snap moves south.
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