China issues blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING -- China's National Meteorological Center on Monday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms, as heavy downpours are expected to lash parts of the country.

From 8 am Monday to 8 am Tuesday, heavy rains are forecast to hit parts of Sichuan, Chongqing, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Henan, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, the center said.

Some parts of these regions may experience heavy downpours, with maximum hourly precipitation surpassing 60 millimeters, accompanied by severe convective weather conditions such as thunderstorms and gales.

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