The first major snowstorm of the season blanketed parts of China's northeastern region, closing schools and halting transportation.

Beijing's state broadcaster CCTV reported that major highways and flights were canceled in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, in the northeast. Classes were also canceled for Monday in elementary and middle schools.

Snowfall for the same period is expected to "break all historical records," according to the National Meteorological Center. Snow depths of 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) are expected in some parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces.

An Associated Press (AP) report showed delivery trucks stranded bumper to bumper for 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) outside the city.

Schools and kindergartens in Chaoyang city in Liaoning province and Chifeng in Inner Mongolia province were also closed.

Monday morning through Tuesday, China's weather authorities issued an orange alert, the second highest level on a four-point scale.