Northwest China: January 3, most of the region will be cloudy to sunny with possible light snow scattered over parts of western Xinjiang and western and northern Qinghai. January 4 to 7, northern Xinjiang and eastern portions of the northwest region will be overcast with light snow, accompanied by force 4 to 6 northerly winds and chillier temperatures. January 8 to 9, this will be followed by light to moderate snowfall. 

North China: January 3 to 5, most of the region will be sunny to cloudy with force 4 to 5 northerly winds, and temperatures dropping and staying low. January 6, most areas will be cloudy to overcast with fog expected, while some central and northern parts will see light snow. January 7 to 8, eastern and southern parts will also experience scattered light snow, while northernmost areas will face force 4 to 6 northerly winds and further drops in temperature. January 9, most of the region will see sunny to cloudy skies, but western parts will be overcast with light snow.

Northeast China: January 3 to 4, the region will experience force 5 to 6 northerly winds, while northern Heilongjiang will be overcast with light snow and low temperatures. January 5 to 7, eastern and southern sections will have light to moderate snow with heavy snow or snowstorms expected in some areas; most regions will face force 4 to 6 westerly or northerly winds with continuing low temperatures. January 8 to 9, most of the region will see clouds and possibly light snow in some places.

Central China: January 3 to 4, the region will see sunny skies with force 4 to 5 northerly winds and temperatures dropping. January 5 to 6, most of the region will be sunny to cloudy with possible fog while some parts will be overcast with light rainfall or sleet. January 7 to 9, most of the region will have light to moderate rain, snow or sleet with force 4 to 5 northerly winds and further declines in temperature, while some of southern Hubei and western and northern Hunan will see sleet.

East China: January 3 to 5, the region will be dominated by sunny days with force 4 to 6 northerly winds and a drop in temperature. January 6, most areas will be cloudy to overcast with fog. January 7 to 9, some central, southern and easternmost parts will have light to moderate rainfall or snow with force 4 to 6 northerly winds expected in most of the region, accompanied by colder temperatures.

South China: January 3 to 4, the region will see sunny to cloudy skies with lower temperatures. January 5 to 6, it will be dominated by cloudy skies with possible fog, while western sections will be overcast with some light rainfall. January 7 to 9, the region will be cloudy to overcast with light to moderate rainfall expected in western and northern parts, while most areas will continue to see fog.

Southwest China: January 3 to 6, eastern portions of the region will be mainly cloudy with light rainfall expected in some areas, while some of Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou will see fog. January 7 to 9, eastern Tibet and eastern parts of the region will be overcast with light to moderate rainfall or snow, accompanied by heavy rain in some places and sleet in parts of Guizhou, while some northeastern areas of Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou will experience force 4 northerly winds and a drop in temperature.

Source: China National Meteorological Center

(China.org.cn December 31, 2004)