BEIJING — China's national observatory on July 9 renewed its orange alert for rainstorms, as incessant downpours continue to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country.

From the afternoon of July 9 to the afternoon of July 10, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan and Guizhou, among other regions, the National Meteorological Center said, warning that some areas will experience downpours with up to 280 mm of daily rainfall.

Some of the aforementioned regions will see over 70 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said.

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

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

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