BEIJING — China's national observatory on Aug 16 renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms in several provinces and regions from the morning of Aug 16 to the morning of Aug 17.

From 8 am on Aug 16 to 8 am on Aug 17, torrential rains and rainstorms are expected to lash parts of the Sichuan Basin, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, Yunnan and Guangxi, the National Meteorological Center said.

According to the forecast, some regions are likely to see over 70 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.

The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert on Aug 15 for floods in parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu from evening of Aug 15 to evening of Aug 16.

Local authorities are advised to stay vigilant for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and suspend 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.