China's winter, from December to February, will be chiller than usual, according to a nationwide weather outlook    1    (release) by authorities on Wednesday.

The forecast, made    2    (joint) by the National Climate Center and the Ministry of Water Resources, said cold air will be frequent    3    northwestern and southern parts of China, including the    4    (province) of Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi and Guizhou, as well as the Xinjiang Uygur and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous regions,     5    temperatures an average of 1℃ to 2℃     6    (low) than in previous winters.

It    7    (add) that long-lasting and large-scale freezing weather or snowstorms will be less likely    8    (occur) in the south this winter, but shorter episodes of such weather    9    (witness) .

Meanwhile, 20 percent to 50 percent more precipitation than normal will batter North China this winter, while in the south it will decrease by    10    same amount, the forecast said.