Heavy fog to blanket central and eastern China

Heavy fog will blanket China's central and eastern regions on Thursday morning, the National Meteorological Center said, warning of increased traffic risks on roads and docks, as well as at airports. The country's top meteorological authority issued a blue alert Thursday morning, the lowest alert in China's four-level fog alert system, urging people in fog-affected areas to be aware of worsened air quality. Fog and haze will decrease visibility to less than 1,000 meters in some parts of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Hunan and Guizhou provinces, as well as Chongqing municipality, the center said, urging drivers to drive slower to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, a cold front will sweep north China over the next three days. Temperatures in some parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, north and northeastern China will drop by as much as 12 degrees Celsius, with some areas experiencing strong winds as well, the center said. Moderate rainfall is expected to hit the country's southeast coast over the next three days, while west Taiwan will see rainstorms, the center said.