Sandstorm and wind alerts raised for northern China

China's meteorological authority renewed on Saturday morning blue alerts for sandstorms and powerful winds, warning of adverse weather conditions across multiple regions over the next 24 hours. For the sandstorm alert, blowing sand or floating dust is expected in parts of northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as well as in northern regions and cities such as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi, Hebei and Beijing, the National Meteorological Center said. People have been advised to wear masks or scarves to protect their eyes and respiratory tracts, while drivers are urged to slow down and exercise extra caution due to low visibility. Strong winds are forecast in areas including parts of Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang, from Saturday morning to Sunday morning. Pedestrians and drivers of vehicles in the affected areas are urged to avoid spending time under or near tall buildings, billboards, temporary structures and trees. China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. (Xinhua) Edited by Thomas McAlinden