This year's first snow hit Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region early Sunday morning.

A torrential rain storm developed into heavy snow early Sunday morning. Residents said they were surprised to see such early snow, because normally the first snowfall in Urumqi is not until later in October.

The snow reached 10 centimeters in some areas of the city, forcing buses to run very slow and traffic jams were reported. Pedestrians had to walk cautiously to avoid slipping.

The snow began to melt at 10 a.m. Sunday as the sun rose.

According to the local meteorological department, most parts ofnorthern Xinjiang reported snow Sunday morning.
 
(People's Daily   September 29, 2003)