BEIJING - China's meteorological authority said Thursday that the country's northern regions will continue to enjoy sunny weather for the coming 24 hours, while the south will expect more rain and snow.

Temperatures in the country's north are expected to rebound gradually, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website.

Meanwhile, rain and snow will persist in most parts of the southern regions over the next three days, the center said.

In another statement issued late Thursday, the center forecast rains in eastern parts of the country's southwestern regions and most areas south of the Yangtze River in the three days to January 30.

Moderate snow and sleet will slash areas at the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the period, the statement said.

The statement also urged prevention of forest fire in some regions of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as well as Tibet from Thursday night to Friday, as those regions saw no rain or snow over recent months.

Thursday is the fifth day of the week-long Spring Festival holiday that started on January 22. Meteorologists suggested people who were returning to work prepare for the flurry and moderate snow.