Yellow alert issued for smog in north China

China's weather observatory has issued a yellow alert for smog in the country's north that will linger until Monday evening.

Beijing and neighboring provinces of Hebei, Henan, Shanxi and Shandong, as well as northeast China will face moderate smog, with south Beijing, central Hebei, central Shanxi, north Henan and northwest Shandong to experience heavy smog, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said Sunday.

The smog is forecast to start easing or dispersing from Monday noon in north China, but continue to hit parts of northeast China, the NMC said.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe weather, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The public has been warned to take protective measures when engaging in outdoor activities and those that suffer from respiratory diseases are advised to stay indoors. Endi