BEIJING — China's national observatory on Aug 20 continued to issue a yellow alert for rainstorms in the country's central, eastern and southern regions.

From 8 am on Aug 20 to 8 am on Aug 21, torrential rains are expected to lash parts of Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong, the National Meteorological Center said.

The center warned that certain areas of Hunan, Hubei and Henan will experience downpours.

According to the forecast, some regions are likely to see over 60 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.

The center advised the public to stay vigilant for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and suggested halting outdoor activities in disaster-prone areas.

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