School children in Yantai were told to stay home again Wednesday as another heavy snow started to hit the city, already snow-covered, in eastern Shandong Province Tuesday evening.

Yantai reported 5.8 millimeters of snowfall Tuesday night and fallen snow on the ground has averaged 28 millimeters by Wednesday.

In the neighboring city of Weihai, which was formerly a part of Yantai, the fallen snow has added up to 35 millimeters plus the 8.3 millimeters reported Tuesday night.

The meteorological bureaus of both cities have issued a "red" warning (the most severe in the local weather warning system) for the snow and another "red" warning for frozen road conditions.

The meteorological authorities have predicted moderate snowfall in both cities Wednesday.

Yantai Meteorological Bureau officials said the snowy weather, starting on Dec. 3, has resulted in the heaviest snowfall in the city's history since 1961 when Yantai first had meteorological records.

The local education authority has called off classes in kindergartens, primary and middle schools in the downtown areas for Wednesday, resumption dependent on weather conditions.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2005)