BEIJING - A strong cold front is expected to sweep across China starting Thursday, causing temperature drops for most of the country, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast on Tuesday.

Temperatures will fall by four to eight degrees Celsius in regions north of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, while parts of north and northeast China will see temperatures fall by more than 10 degrees Celsius, the center said.

Some areas in the Sichuan Basin, Shaanxi province and north China will experience moderate and heavy rains in the next two days, and pounding rainstorms or torrential downpours are also expected in some regions, it said.

Meteorological experts urged local authorities in the Sichuan Basin and Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces to enhance monitoring for possible geological disasters and flooding following continuous rainfall.