The first snow of the new year hit large parts of central and eastern China on Wednesday. An orange weather alert, announced Thursday morning, was recently lifted but snow continues to sweep through parts of Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. The cold snap first swept through the country's northwest on Tuesday. Meteorologists expect the harsh weather conditions to ease Thursday night. China's Meteorological Administration advises residents to stay indoors and urged local authorities to take precautions for roads, railways, and power grids.