First snowfall of year descends on Beijing, temperatures drop

Heavier dusting was expected in the urban areas on Friday night, tapering off in the early hours of Saturday, the bureau added.

Waiting for the first snowfall in Beijing with hyped excitement has become a ritual for many residents because of the prolonged winter stretch without major precipitation in recent years.

According to the bureau, Beijing sees its first snowfall on Nov 29 on average, but the past two winters the city reported its first snows in late January. The latest date by which the first measurable snow was recorded in the city was in 1984, when it fell on Feb 11.

The Beijing Capital International Airport said on Friday the mild snow could cause delays or cancellations during the busy hours of Saturday morning as de-icing processes for each plane will take about five to 20 minutes.

Nationwide, following its peak on Friday, the snow is forecast to die down in most areas over the weekend, but will continue to blanket parts of northeastern and northwestern China, where accumulated snowfall could reach 9 mm, according to the National Meteorological Center.

"The scope of this snowfall could be the widest of this winter, but the strength is of normal level, so most regions will only see small to mild snow," said Zhang Fanghua, a chief forecaster at the center.