BEIJING, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Saturday renewed its yellow alert for rainstorms, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country.

File photo by CFP

From Saturday to Sunday morning, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu, the National Meteorological Center said, warning that some areas will experience downpours with up to 180 mm of daily rainfall.

Some of the aforementioned regions will see over 70 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said.

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

The center advised local authorities to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and recommended halting outdoor operations in hazardous areas.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions exceeded warning levels.