China's north will be hit by 16 to 19 sandstorms this spring, experts warned at a weather conference in Beijing.

Some areas in the northern China may experience particularly strong and intensive sandstorms due to the lingering draught, although the overall frequency will drop slightly compared to last year.

The meeting, organized by State Forestry Administration (SFA) and China Meteorological Administration (CMA), also urged enhancing sandstorm warning messages and prevention initiatives, with the prioritized use of SMS and Internet-based systems.