China renews blue alert for rainstorms

China's national weather observatory renewed a blue alert on Sunday, as several southern provinces will continue to be hit by heavy rain Sunday through Monday.

Heavy rain or storms may hit parts of Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hubei provinces, while some of these areas may see hail, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Rainfall in Guizhou and Guangxi could exceed 60 millimeters per hour, the NMC said.

The center warned local authorities to reduce outdoor activities and to take precautions against strong winds, flooding and geological disasters.

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