China renews blue alert for rainstorm

China renewed a blue alert for rainstorm on Monday as torrential rain continued to lash some southwestern and northern regions.

From Monday to Tuesday, heavy rain will continue in the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hebei, Liaoning and Shandong, as well as municipalities of Beijing and Chongqing, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website.

Rainfall in some of those regions is expected to reach up to 130 mm within 24 hours. Some areas will also see thunderstorms and strong winds, according to the statement.

The center suggested people in affected areas avoid outdoor activities and local authorities take precautions against possible flash floods, landslides and mudslides.

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