Spring not only brings flowers and warmth after the long northern winter -- but also dust and sand, as residents in Inner Mongolia and Beijing were reminded Wednesday.

The sandstorm, first this year, reduced visibility to a very low level and caused much trouble to local residents.

In spring, northern China regions, including Inner Mongolia and Beijing, are vulnerable to sandstorms due to scarcity of rainfalls and desertification.

Influenced by cold air, northerly gusts are to sweep most parts of northern China for the days ahead, with temperatures dropping abruptly in some places, weather forecast warned Wednesday.

Rainy and wintry weather will sweep eastern parts of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region as well of the southeastern and southwestern China.

In Beijing, the blue alarm was raised as a five- to six- scale wind approached, covering the capital in dust.

Caused by the cold air, Beijing's daytime temperature dropped to 9 C yesterday from 16.5 C a day ago, and it could drop to -1 C, reminding people not to put off winter cloths hurriedly.

However, meteorologic experts in the capital said the strength of the gusts will dwindle quickly by the morning and the highest temperature today will climb to 18 C.

(China Daily March 24, 2005)