China on blue alert for cold wave

BEIJING -- China's meteorological authority on Sunday issued a blue alert for a cold wave, forecasting big temperature drops and gales in vast regions of the country.

From Sunday morning to Monday morning, temperatures are expected to plunge by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius in most of southern China, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Strong wind is forecast to sweep Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, and parts of Guangxi and Guangdong from Monday to Tuesday morning.

The center advised the public to keep warm amid the temperature plunge and be alert for heavy wind.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe weather, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.