BEIJING - China's meteorological authority on Friday issued a blue alert for severe convective weather in vast parts of the country.

From Friday morning to Saturday morning, thunderstorms, gales and hail will sweep parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, and Guizhou, with the maximum wind force reaching 17.2 to 28.4 meters per second, according to the National Meteorological Center.

China has a three-tier, color-coded weather warning system for severe convective weather, with orange representing the most severe warning, followed by yellow and blue

Short-term heavy rainfall with hourly precipitation ranging from 20 mm to over 50 mm will lash parts of Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Chongqing, and Guizhou, the meteorological center said.

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It has advised the public to take precautions against heavy rain, thunder and gales, and has recommended reducing outdoor activities.

Vessels operating in or transiting affected waters should return to port or take detours, according to the center.

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

Rainstorms alert

The meteorological authority on Friday also issued a yellow alert for rainstorms, expecting heavy rainfall in several regions of the country.

From 8 am Friday to 8 am Saturday, torrential rain will sweep parts of the regions in Henan, Hunan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Jilin.

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There are areas in Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia and Jilin that will see up to 180 mm of rainfall, while some places in these regions will experience short-term heavy rainfall with 80 mm or more of hourly precipitation, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.

The meteorological center has advised local governments to implement appropriate preparations and check the drainage systems in cities, farmlands, and fishponds.

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