The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) early Monday issued a red alert for severe snowstorms forecast for central and eastern China.

Heavy snow is set to blanket northern Hunan, eastern Hubei, southeastern Henan, northwestern Zhejiang as well as most areas of Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces on Monday, while some of these areas will expect snowstorms, according to the CMA.

Meanwhile, freezing rain will pound some parts of Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang.

The CMA warned local governments and departments to prepare for the coming bad weather, and transportation, railway, electricity and communication departments were advised to prepare post-snow clean-ups.

CMA also suggested that citizens in these areas should reduce their unnecessary outdoor activities.

The CMA's weather warnings fall into four levels in accordance with their severity and status of emergency, with red being the most severe.

The snow, the worst in a decade in many places, has hit most of China since January 12, leaving homes collapsed, power blackouts, highways closed and crops destroyed.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)