Traffic disrupted and schools closed as snowstorms hit (2)

According to the city's meteorological bureau, snow in Hegang reached 32 cm on Monday morning.

Three highways through Heilongjiang were closed and will reopen only when weather conditions improve, according to the provincial traffic bureau.

Harbin Taiping International Airport was largely unaffected by the snow, a staff member surnamed Zheng said.

Although the snowstorm did not severely affect the traffic in Jilin province, schools in the provincial capital Changchun are scheduled to be closed on Tuesday in consideration of student safety, said Zhang Dewen, director of safety at the city's education bureau.

In the winter, frequent cold air movement is common, said Sun Jun, chief forecaster for the National Meteorological Center, adding that cold fronts may pass through the country every five days.

He said the public should keep warm and motorists should drive slowly because of the sudden temperature drop and precipitation.