Icy weather to persist in S China

BEIJING - Snow and icy weather will persist in south China over the next few days, increasing pressure on authorities to battle the lingering cold weather, the country's meteorological authority said Sunday.

Rain and snow will continue in parts of southwest China, Guangdong province and the Tibet and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous regions from Sunday to Monday, while parts of Guizhou province are expected to receive freezing rain, according to a statement from the National Meteorological Center.

China is experiencing unusual chills this winter, with national average temperatures reaching a 28-year low.

A new cold front is expected to sweep the country on Tuesday, bringing strong rain to south China. Some parts of south China will also see heavy snow or snowstorms, according to the statement.

The center also said fog and haze will decrease visibility to within 1,000 meters in the eastern part of southwest China and regions along the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers, as well as the southern part of north China.

Persistent icy weather has wreaked havoc in south China, disrupting traffic, damaging power facilities and affecting agricultural production.