Heavy rain to hit North China, Sichuan

BEIJING - China's meteorological authority forecast on Sunday that heavy rain will hit some regions in the north and Sichuan province in the southwest from Sunday to Tuesday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said heavy rain or rainstorms will pelt the central and eastern part of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and some regions in North China and Northeast China.

Some of those regions may also see downpours, thunderstorms or hails, the center said.

The central and western part of the Sichuan basin will witness heavy rain from 100 to 200 millimeters, while some parts will have rainfall of up to 300 millimeters.

The NMC also said that the Rumbia, the sixth tropical storm to hit China this year, will enter the eastern part of South China Sea around midday Sunday, and then head towards Guangdong and Hainan provinces as its force strengthens.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said Saturday that the storm may come ashore in Guangdong on Monday night or Tuesday, and it may also be felt in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Hainan, Hunan and Guizhou.

The headquarters urged local authorities to enhance monitoring, issue early warnings, timely evacuate residents in the threatened areas and call back fishing boats to port.