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A cold front expected to move through most parts of China in the next nine days will lower temperatures by up to 14 degrees in some regions and bring snow and rain, according to forecasts.
Due to the cold snap, some areas in the northern part of the country - such as Beijing, Shenyang in Liaoning province and Zhangjiakou in Hebei province - will turn on their public heating systems ahead of schedule.
In Beijing, the public heating system will start operating on Sunday, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment.
In Shenyang, the heating system started operating on Tuesday, while in Zhangjiakou it was operating on Sunday.
Guo Weiqi, director of the heating office of the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment, said that his office asked heating companies to start operations ahead of schedule, to keep indoor temperatures comfortable before the sudden temperature drop in the capital.
According to the capital's meteorological bureau, the average temperature in Beijing this week is expected to range from 5 to 10 C, and it will be below 5 C from Saturday to Tuesday.
Snowfall may occur in some areas on Saturday, while the lowest temperature in Beijing will likely be below zero next week.
Central heating services, which are mainly used in North China, are generally turned on when average daily temperatures fall below 5 C for five straight days.
Temperatures will drop in Northeast China, while rain and gales will hit Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang and Guizhou provinces and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in the next nine days, the China Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday.
Parts of Northeast China will see the first snow of the year, while mild to heavy rain may hit most southern provinces and regions, including Hainan, the forecast said.
In the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, a sudden temperature drop by up to 14 degrees is forecast for Thursday.
He Lifu, chief forecaster at the China Meteorological Administration, said that most of North China will see temperatures falling gradually.
People should keep warm and wear more clothes, while children and older people should stay indoors when temperatures drop, He said.
Colds and respiratory diseases are common during cold fronts, with children and older people facing an increased risk of getting sick.
Dramatic temperature drops may also lead to higher death rates.
Drivers should also be aware of the possibility of icy roads.
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.