Staff members clean snow at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - China's meteorological authorities on Thursday issued a blue alert for heavy snow in the northern part of the country.

The National Meteorological Center forecast snowstorms to hit parts of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, and Beijing, with 3 cm to 8 cm of snowfall expected from Thursday to Friday morning.

READ MORE: More snow on way for northern China

In some areas, snowstorms are expected to drop over 12 cm of snow, it warned.

People walk in snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

People walk in snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

People walk in snow in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A child walks in snow in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A snow pressing machine works at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A blooming magnolia tree is seen amid snow in Mentougou District of Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Tourists visit the Summer Palace amid snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

People ride in snow in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A volunteer is on duty amid snow in Shacheng Town of Huailai County, north China's Hebei province, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA

A citizen walks in snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 17, 2022. (PHOTO / XINHUA)