BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday upgraded its flood warning to yellow, as Typhoon Bavi is forecast to bring heavy rainfall to vast swathes of the country from Sunday to Tuesday.

Photo: IC

China has a four-tier color-coded warning system for floods, with red being the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The yellow alert calls for heightened preparedness and precautionary measures.

The downpours, with accumulative precipitation ranging from 40 mm to 90 mm, are expected to hit parts of eastern, central and southern China, including the Yangtze-Huaihe region, the Yellow River basin, and northeastern areas. Some regions may see rainfall exceeding 260 mm.

Several rivers in the Haihe River basin have already experienced their first floods of 2026. The upcoming rains could trigger new numbered floods in major waterways such as Taihu Lake, Liaohe River and Songhua River.

Authorities have warned of higher risks of flash floods, mountain torrents and urban waterlogging in the affected areas, urging the public to stay vigilant and avoid low-lying zones, underground passages and mountain valleys during downpours.