Fierce winds that whipped up dust shrouded most parts of the capital on Saturday, officials from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said.

    "The dust, which came from Shanxi province, covered the southern part of Hebei and the northern part of Shandong Province. It will also affect the southwest of Beijing as it heads south," Guo Jinlan, a forecaster with the bureau, said.

    Several cities in Hebei, including the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang, were "slightly polluted" and suffered poor visibility as strong winds brought dust with them, the provincial meteorological observatory said yesterday.

    The dusts clouded the province after the region suffered a severe drought last year, which halved precipitation in many areas and left the earth arid.

    From tomorrow to Thursday, strong winds have been forecast to sweep north China, the eastern part of the northwest and the southern part of the northeast.

    Parts of these regions would suffer the sands.

    Meteorologists said the northern regions were likely to experience more frequent and severe sandstorms in spring.

    The forecast was related to the La Nina weather phenomenon and abnormal atmospheric circulation, which would prevail until summer.

    Authorities advised the public to wear facemasks to ward off dust.

    Precision equipment should also be properly sealed from being affected by the dust and motorists should drive cautiously because of poor visibility. Airport, highway, ferry and port authorities have been advised to take appropriate safety measures.    (Mar.3)

Editor: Xu Hui