Much of China will get its coldest weather so far this winter this week as a cold front from western Siberia moves through, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) forecast on Monday.

Two girls play in a grassland of Xinhu Farmland in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on November 30, 2008. Prolonged periods of drought resulting from China's 23rd consecutive "warm winter" will pose a serious threat to the country's crop yields, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said in a report published Tuesday.

Temperatures will drop 6 to 10 degrees Celsius in some regions.

The northern part of western Xinjiang will get snow and strong wind on Monday. Most of north China will get moderate snow while south China will get rain and snow.

The CMA advised people to protect grain and livestock from strong winds and snow.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2008)