BEIJING- Temperatures in China's central and eastern regions will plunge over the next three days as a cold front approaches the country, the National Meteorological Center said Thursday.

Temperatures in the affected regions will decrease by 4 to 8 degrees Celsius over the next three days, in the company of strong winds, the center said in a statement on its website.

Heavy rains are forecasted to sweep South China, with precipitation in Chongqing municipality and the provinces of Guizhou and Guangdong reaching 25 to 35 mm, the statement said.

The year's 20th tropical storm Banyan, which was located 220 km southwest of the Philippines as of 5 a.m. Thursday, is moving northwestward at 15 km per hour, the statement said.

The storm is expected to enter the South China Sea this afternoon and continue to strengthen, bringing strong winds to the area, the statement said.