BEIJING - A strong cold front, bringing strong winds and temperature drops, will sweep across most parts of China in the coming week, the national observatory forecast Sunday.

Temperatures have fallen by up to 6 degrees Celsius in some parts of northwest China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the past day, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

The NMC also said the strong cold front will bring rain to most parts of southern China over the next four days.

A sand storm will hit the south of Xinjiang Autonomous Region from Tuesday to Friday, bringing sand and dust to adjacent areas in northwest China.