BEIJING -- China's national observatory on Thursday renewed a blue alert for sandstorms.

Floating sand and dust will sweep parts of Xinjiang, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Hebei on Thursday, the National Meteorological Center forecast.

Some parts of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang 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.