BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Wednesday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms in parts of the country's southwestern, eastern and southern regions.

File photo: CFP

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, heavy rainfall and rainstorms are expected in parts of Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Yunnan and Inner Mongolia, the National Meteorological Center said.

Some regions will see up to 110 mm of hourly precipitation, the center said.

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

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