BEIJING — A freezing front swept over much of northern China Sunday with snowstorms snarling road and air traffic, schools set to stay closed, and some of the lowest temperatures in decades forecast in coming days.

Snow storms were expected to continue through Monday and the mercury was set to plunge in the next 48 hours when China returns to work following a three-day New Year holiday, the Beijing meteorological station said.

Gale force winds sweeping down from Siberia could result in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius (three degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital on Monday and Tuesday, it added.

In some parts of northern China temperatures were expected to drop as low as minus 32 degrees Celsius.

Classes at primary and middle schools in Beijing and nearby Tianjin would be suspended on Monday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Heavy snows hampered traffic at Beijing Capital Airport where about 90 percent of all flights were delayed or cancelled on Sunday, the last day of the holiday, China Central Television said.

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