Beijing warns regions of deluge and heat
Chongqing residents play mahjong in the middle of a shallow river amid a red alert for heat in the ancient town of Pianyan. Photo: Reuters
Mainland authorities renewed weather alerts on Saturday, warning of rainstorms and high temperatures in several regions.
The National Meteorological Centre maintained a yellow alert for rainstorms, forecasting heavy rainfall from Saturday to Sunday across parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Taiwan island.
Some of these regions may experience hourly precipitation topping 70 millimetres, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales, according to the centre.
Local governments have been urged to take precautions and inspect drainage systems in cities, farmlands and fishponds.
The centre has also renewed a yellow alert for high temperatures in several regions.
High temperatures ranging from 35 to 39 degrees Celsius are expected in parts of northern China, Shaanxi, regions between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River, the Jianghan Plain, the Sichuan Basin, areas south of the Yangtze River, southern China, Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia during daylight hours on Saturday.
Temperatures in parts of Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing and the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang may exceed 40 degrees, it said.
The centre has advised people to take protective measures and avoid excessive sun exposure.
China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. (Xinhua)
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