China issues blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING -- China's meteorological authorities on Friday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms.

From 8 am Friday to 8 am Saturday, heavy rain or rainstorms are forecast to hit parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Yunnan, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The center said some of these regions will experience heavy rainfall marked by 30 mm to over 60 mm of hourly precipitation, as well as severe convective weather conditions such as thunderstorms and gales.

The center has advised local governments and residents to take appropriate precautions. Schools and kindergartens have been asked to ensure the safety of students and children, while drivers have been advised to be alert and cautious due to road waterlogging and traffic jams.

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

Authorities warned earlier this month that China would face multiple natural disasters in July, including floods, severe convection weather, typhoons and high temperatures.