BEIJING, Sept. 19 -- China's National Meteorological Center on Tuesday evening continued to issue a yellow alert for rainstorms as heavy downpours are expected to lash some regions in east, central, and southwest China.

From 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday, heavy rain to rainstorms are forecast to hit parts of Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hunan, according to the center.

Some areas of the aforementioned regions may experience heavy downpours, with maximum hourly precipitation surpassing 70 millimeters, accompanied by strong convective weather, including thunderstorms and gales.

The center has advised local governments to prepare for rainstorms and traffic management authorities to implement proper traffic control on road sections affected by heavy rainfall.

It also suggested disconnecting at-risk outdoor power supplies, suspending outdoor operations in open areas, and transferring people from vulnerable areas to safer locations.

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