LHASA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region issued an emergency yellow alert for road icing on Thursday morning, forecasting lasting snow over the next 24 hours.

Affected by strong cold air, heavy snow has hit Nyingchi city and Xigaze city since Wednesday, said the regional meteorological observatory.

From Feb. 28 to March 1, heavy snowfall will continue to hit the counties of Medog, Zayu and Bomi of Nyingchi.

Zhongba, Saga, southern Tingri and Dinggye counties in Xigaze city will encounter snowstorms.

The current prolonged snowy weather will disrupt traffic, power supply and telecommunication as well as agricultural and animal husbandry, the observatory said.

It also called for caution as there may be icy roads and avalanches.