BEIJING - A cold wave is forecast to sweep north China over the next three days, bringing strong winds and dragging temperatures down, China's meteorological authorities said Saturday.

Temperatures in areas north to the Huaihe River will fall by 4-8 degrees Celsius, while some parts may even see temperatures down 10-12 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website.

Light rain is expected to fall on the spring farming areas in northeast China from Saturday night to Sunday. Precipitation will reach 10-15 millimeters in east parts of Jilin province.

Strong rains are forecast to pelt on the country's southern regions over the next three days, the center said in the statement.

Meanwhile, parts of Qinghai and Sichuan provinces and Tibet autonomous region will be hit by moderate to heavy snow for the coming three days, according to the statement.