Cold air on way to disperse smog

People are seen exercising in the morning at Ditan Park, Beijing, on Nov 5, 2016, despite the smoggy weather. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING - An approaching cold front will help disperse smog in north China, with visibility expected to be improved, the country's meteorological authority forecast on Sunday.

The National Meteorological Center renewed the orange alert for air pollution in the morning, but said the smog will be gradually dispersed because of the cold air.

The heavy haze, which has shrouded most areas of north China for three days, caused widespread flight delays and cancellations at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The cold front is also forecast to bring gales and drag temperatures down in most parts of China over the next three days, the center said.

Temperatures in some areas may even fall by 10 degrees Celsius. Parts of northern and northeastern regions will see snowy weather, while south China will receive showers or torrential rains.

China has a four-tier color-coded system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

After experiencing frequent bouts of smog, the Chinese public has become increasingly sensitive to the health hazard. To address public concerns, the government aims to cut the density of inhalable particulate matter by at least 10 percent in major cities by 2017.