More snow is expected to slap northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which has suffered a blizzard over the past several days, the local meteorological station said Monday.

 

Many parts of Xinjiang have been hit by continuous heavy snowfall amid drastic temperature drops since Dec. 29 last year. Fortunately, most of the herdsmen and their livestock stranded in winter pastures have returned to their residential areas or resettled in safe places with the help of the local government.

 

However, a new spell of snowfall, including snowstorms, will strike Altay Prefecture, which was among the worst-affected regions in the blizzard, as of Monday night, causing a temperature drop of 12 to 16 degrees Celsius, according to weather forecast released by the regional meteorological station Monday.

 

The new episode of snowy weather is estimated to last through Friday due to the cold air coming from the western Siberia, a meteorologist said, calling relative departments to help residents get prepared for the upcoming snowfall.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2006)