China renews blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING - China's national observatory renewed a blue alert for rainstorms on Sunday, warning of downpours in multiple regions of the country.

From 8 am Sunday to 8 am Monday, heavy rain and rainstorms are forecast to hit parts of Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Qinghai, Guangxi and Guangdong, the National Meteorological Center said.

Some areas may experience brief but intense precipitation with hourly rainfall potentially exceeding 70 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said.

It has issued safety guidelines, urging local authorities to prepare for the rainstorms, schools and kindergartens to ensure the safety of students, drivers to be cautious of waterlogged roads and traffic congestion, and relevant agencies to inspect drainage systems in cities, farmlands and fish ponds.

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