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 provinces in northwestern China on Tuesday. Meteorological experts expect the harsh weather conditions to ease Thursday night. The observatory has advised residents to stay indoors and urged local authorities to take precautions regarding roads, railways, and power grids.