Beijing, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei Province were hit by strong dusty wind, blotting out the sun and turning the sky slate grey.
Yang Guimin, senior engineer with China's Central Meteorological Observatory, explained that Thursday's dusty weather is being caused by moderate gales originating on the Mongolian Plateau.
He expected that the strong winds would sweep areas along the Yellow River and the Huaihe River, including Shandong Province, later Thursday.
"The wind will slow down later this afternoon and the grey sky will turn clear as air-borne dust gradually settles down", Yang said.
Sandstorms Hit Beijing
He blamed dry, strong wind, and the dearth of vegetation in northern China for the dusty weather, adding that the fine particles of soil can easily be carried long distances by the strong winds.
"A sandstorm hit Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, Wednesday under the influence of a strong gale, which has moved southward and blanketed northern China with fine particles," she said.
