ULAN BATOR, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 percent of Mongolia's territory is currently covered by snow, the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring reported on Monday.

"At least 64 percent of Mongolia's territory is now blanketed by snow," the weather agency said, adding that as of Monday morning, snowfall is ongoing in five of the country's all 21 provinces.

Mongolia is renowned for its harsh winters, which are heavily influenced by the Siberian high-pressure system.

Last winter brought the heaviest snowfall in the country in five decades, leading to a severe dzud that resulted in the loss of millions of livestock.

Dzud is a Mongolian term referring to a huge lost of livestock due to frozen or snow-covered ground during a harsh winter.

This winter, most parts of the Asian country are forecast to experience colder temperatures than the long-term average, according to the weather agency. ■