BEIJING, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The sandstorms that have blanketed north China for the last three days are expected to ease Tuesday night, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is forecasting.

The sandstorms have affected at least ten provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia and Beijing, said Qiao Lin, of the CMA.

North China had experienced eight sandstorms this year, fewer than the average, but more than last year and 2004, Qiao said.

North China suffered storms almost every spring, but the situation had been exacerbated this year by higher than average temperatures and prolonged drought, he said.

Sandstorms occurred in places with low rainfall, scarce vegetation and frequent gales.

This year's storms left one dead in a collapsed house in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and stopped dozens of trains for safety reasons in Xinjiang and Gansu.

Serious air pollution was reported in northern cities, including Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, and Beijing.

North China will receive heavy rain in the next three days, which should contain floating sand and relieve the prolonged drought, according to the CMA forecast.