Photo taken on March 18, 2022 shows the snow view at a university in suburban Beijing, capital of China. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

BEIJING - Beijing was hit by heavy snow on Friday, with blizzards in part of the capital, while the peak daytime temperature stood at just 2.5 degrees Celsius, the local meteorological authorities said.

As of 6 pm Friday, the city had launched a blue alert for heavy snow, and yellow alerts for road icing and thick fog.

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By 5 pm, Beijing had sent about 42,000 sanitation workers and 3,461 vehicles for snow clearing work, local authorities said.

A man rides on the road amid snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

According to the latest weather forecast, the city's minimum temperature is expected to drop to about minus 2 degrees, and its mountainous areas will see the lowest temperature of minus 8 degrees.

Beijing Public Transport Corp, the State-owned bus operator in the national capital, carried out temporary measures on 173 lines on Friday to respond to the heavy snowfall.

The operation of 161 lines — 56 in urban areas and 105 in rural regions — had been suspended as of 6 pm as part of efforts to reduce safety hazards.

People enjoy snow view at a park in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

It also adjusted routes for 12 lines to circumvent roads and stops with thick snow cover.

There are about 1,200 bus lines in Beijing, according to the operator.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe alert, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

People enjoy snow view at a park in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

People enjoy snow view at a park in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

A deliveryman rides on a road amid snow in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

People enjoy snow view at a park in Beijing, capital of China, March 18, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)