China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Sunday lifted its blue alert for the severe cold wave that has been sweeping many northern regions of the country.

The cold snap is easing but temperatures will continue to drop in central and eastern China and on Monday some will experience record low temperatures, according to the NMC.

Temperatures dropped overnight by 6-8 degrees Celsius in southeastern parts of northwestern China, western parts of northern China, Inner Mongolia and central and eastern parts of northeastern China, southeastern Fujian and coastal areas in Guangdong.

Many places experienced the lowest temperatures so far this winter, including parts of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan.

The meteorological alerts are categorized as blue, yellow, orange and red, with the severity of any disaster ascending.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2012)