(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-02 19:34

BEIJING -- The worst winter weather to hit central, eastern and southern China in decades could persist into the Year of the Rat, weather officials said.

The severe weather, which has killed at least 60 people and left millions facing a cold, dark Lunar New Year holiday, could last until February 8 or 9, according to the latest forecasts from the Central Meteorological Station on Saturday morning.

It said that heavy snow would continue on Saturday in the central province of Hunan and in Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang to the east. A new round of snow was likely to fall on Monday and Tuesday.

In Zhejiang, a snowstorm that began in the early hours of Friday has lasted 30 hours, causing snow accumulations in many areas to reach record depths.

By midday on Saturday, snowfall had reached 31 centimeters in the provincial capital, Hangzhou. That broke the all-time record of 29 cm, according to the provincial meteorological station. Snow drifts in 11 other parts of the province also equaled or broke the records, said the station's deputy chief, Pan Jinsong.

Nearly 300 urban parks out of 940 in Zhejiang were closed due to snow.

Thousands of troops, armed police, residents and volunteers began to clear snow on the main roads early on Saturday as forecasters warned of road icing early on Sunday.

Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, has been closed since 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 5,000 passengers were delayed. Snow on the runway measured an average of 20 cm on Saturday morning, and airport authorities said reopening was unlikely before 6:00 p.m.

Much-needed warmer temperatures were unlikely even after the snow began to end around February 8, chief weatherman Yang Guiming warned.

"In many provinces, roads will remain icy, and it takes time to return to warm temperatures," he said. "When it gets warm and the ice and snow melt, we have to watch out for road mishaps, floods and other problems."

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