BEIJING - A strong cold front is moving from north to south over the next couple of days, bringing temperature drops and strong winds to South China, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast Saturday.

Meanwhile, temperatures in most of South China, eastern parts of Yunnan province in Southwest China and North China's Heilongjiang province will fall by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius, the NMC said in an online statement.

Some of the above regions, especially those close to waters, will also see strong winds, the center added.

Affected by the cold front, from Saturday to Sunday morning, the Taiwan Straits will be swept by gales of level nine, accompanied by gusts of level 10 to 11. The center has issued a yellow strong winds alert for waters near Taiwan, including parts of East China Sea and South China Sea.

Snow will be expected in the northern part of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region over the next three days, while parts of Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan will see moderate rainfall, the center added.