China renews blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING -- China's meteorological authority on Sunday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms in some parts of the country.

From Sunday morning to 8 am Monday, heavy rainfall or rainstorms are forecast to lash parts of Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi and Guizhou, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Some areas of these provincial-level regions will also experience short and heavy rainfall marked by 20 to over 60 mm of hourly precipitation, as well as severe convection weather such as thunderstorms and gales, the meteorological center said.

It has advised local governments to make due preparations. Schools and kindergartens should work to ensure the safety of children, and drivers should stay cautious about waterlogging and traffic jams.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.