BEIJING, April 10 -- China's meteorological authority on Thursday issued a yellow alert for strong winds and a blue alert for sandstorms, warning of significant weather disruptions across the country.

From Friday to Sunday, an approaching cold front is expected to bring rare sustained strong winds to northern regions, severe hailstorms to southern areas, and sandstorms to northwest China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the country's north, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

In response, the country has activated an emergency response to address these meteorological hazards.

Temperatures in central and eastern China are forecast to drop by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius from Friday to Saturday, while southern regions will likely experience moderate to heavy rainfall.

Residents are advised to pay close attention to forecasts and warning information issued by local meteorological departments, avoid unnecessary travel during periods of strong winds or strong convective weather, and exercise heightened caution regarding traffic safety in extreme weather conditions.