BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's meteorological authority on Tuesday issued its blue alert for a cold wave, forecasting big temperature drops and gales across large areas of the country.

From Wednesday to Sunday, temperatures are expected to plunge by 8 to 12 degrees Celsius in large parts of China, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Some parts of Xinjiang, Gansu, Guizhou, regions south of the Yangtze River, and the southern part of China could see temperatures slash by 14 to 18 degrees Celsius. Some regions of Jilin and Heilongjiang might see temperatures plunge by over 20 degrees Celsius.

Gales are expected to hit some parts of Xinjiang and Gansu, said the center.

The center warned against the cold wave's impact on agriculture and advised the public to take precautions against the temperature change and the winds.

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