BEIJING — China's national observatory on March 14 issued a blue alert for sandstorms.

Between the night of March 14 and 15, floating sand and dust will sweep parts of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Henan, Anhui, and Hubei, the National Meteorological Center forecast.

Some regions in Inner Mongolia will experience sandstorms, the center said.

It has advised the public to take precautions against the winds and sandstorms and suggested that drivers prepare for poor visibility.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system for sandstorms, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.