BEIJING — China's national observatory renewed a blue alert for rainstorms on July 16, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc in vast stretches of the country.

From the afternoon of July 16 to the afternoon of July 17, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in parts of Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Yunnan, the National Meteorological Center said, warning that some areas of Chongqing and Hubei will experience downpours with up to 180 mm of daily rainfall.

Some of the aforementioned regions will see up to 60 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said.

The center advised local authorities to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and recommended halting outdoor operations in hazardous areas.

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

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of Southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions have exceeded warning levels.

Due to the disastrous flooding, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised the emergency response to Level II on July 12.