China renews blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING -- China's national observatory renewed a blue alert for rainstorms Wednesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc in vast stretches of the country.

From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in parts of Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang, the National Meteorological Center said.

Some areas will experience downpours that bring up to 120 mm of rainfall per day, while some will see over 50 mm of precipitation per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, 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.

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

Due to the disastrous flooding, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised the emergency response to Level II on Sunday.