The Chinese capital was blanketed by floating dust from Friday night on. This year's first sandstorm should be cleared up in the city till Saturday night, says the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

Sandstorms hit Beijing Saturday morning as the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) forecast, with temperatures expected to drop by four to eight degrees Celsius in most parts of northern China and by up to 12 degrees in some areas. [Xinhua]

The floating dust was brought in by a cyclone developed in Mongolia, which moved eastward through Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei Province into the city, Sun Jun, a CMA senior engineer said.

The main body of the cyclone is expected to reach Beijing around Saturday noon, but the strong wind should help drive the floating dust away, according to Sun.

Floating dust is the mildest form of sandstorms, and Beijing would not be much affected. Yet, people were still advised to take precautions such as wearing a scarf when they go outside, and less outdoor activities.

Meanwhile, sandstorms are forecast in parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu Province, Shaanxi Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Liaoning Province and some other areas in north China, the CMA said.

The most affected are western part of Inner Mongolia, northern Ningxia and western Gangsu, where sandstorms will cause a visibility of less than 1,000 meters, and people are warned to take precautionary measures to "avoid possible dangers."

Eleven to 15 sandstorms are forecast in northern and northwestern China this spring, according to a previous CMA forecast.