Northern China is likely to encounter more sandstorms during the forthcoming May Day holiday, forecasters in Beijing warned on Friday.

"Bad weather is forecast for parts of north, northwest and northeast China including Beijing around May 3 to 4," Xiao Ziniu, director of China central observatory, said at a press conference.

"Duststorms or sandstorms may develop as strong winds blow large amounts of sand and dust into the air, reducing visibility to less than 1 kilometre.

Residents should go well prepared if they plan to spend time outside during the holiday," he said. "The weather in Beijing will be no worse than the city has already experienced this week," he added.

During the week-long holiday, Beijing's temperature will range from 31 C to 12 C with at least five clear days.

In the south, downpours are forecast over more than half of the seven-day holiday period beginning May 1, Wang Bangzhong, deputy-director of the forecasting services and disasters mitigation of China Meteorological Administration, said.

Most areas in China can expect less precipitation during May than the same period of previous years with the exception of areas along the Yangtze River and provinces south of the river.

Temperatures will fluctuate over the next month as seasonally warmer weather is tempered by winds from the north in north, northeast and northwest China, Wang said.

(China Daily April 30, 2005)