A thick sandstorm has swept across northern parts of China. Experts say such weather, earlier than usual during winter season, is related to dry conditions this fall season. The region has also been hampered by snow and cold temperatures.

Weather forecasters say cold air in the north has been sweeping from west to east and then south since November 9th. The winds have brought sand with them.

Yang Guiming, China's Chief Weather Forecaster, said, "Sandstorms have hit the western and central parts of Inner Mongolia, central and northern sections of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, parts of northern Shaanxi, and Hebei and Shangdong provinces."

Experts have explained that deserts in China's northern areas such as Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang and Ningxia are where the sands come from. The recent cold air and dry conditions in these regions have contributed most to the sandstorms.

Yang Guiming said, "Ningxia, Gansu and Inner Mongolia have seen little rainfall this fall season. The land is very dry. Cold weather has withered plants. Sand is easy to be blown around."

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