Sand and dust blanketed the middle and western parts of north
China's
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday, according to the
regional observatory.
The sand and dust weather was caused by a cold snap, which also
brought light snow to the eastern region and gales near the border
between China and Mongolia.
The areas near the border have been suffering from relatively
serious desertification and thus are vulnerable to this type of
weather, but it has not formed sand storms yet, according to the
observatory.
This weather will subside after the cold air passed on Tuesday
night.
Due to the seasonal influences of cold air, the Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region suffers from abrupt climate changes in spring
every year and the region is expecting more cold air on
Saturday.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2006)
