BEIJING - Most parts of southern China will continue to be hit by rain and snow in the next three days, the national observatory forecast on Saturday.

Rain and snow started to hit south China on Friday, bringing down temperatures in the provinces of Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said in a statement.

From Saturday to Monday, light to moderate snow, or sleet will fall in the country's southwest, including some parts of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the West Sichuan Plateau, Guizhou and Yunnan, the NMC said.

Most parts to the south of Yangtze River, south China and Yunnan will be hit by light to moderate rain in the next few days.

The NMC also said that the central and eastern parts of China will be swept by a cold front, bringing down temperatures by up to 8 degrees Celsius.