Heavy rain expected in 7 provinces of China, Meteorological Department issued blue alert

China has issued a blue alert in view of the possibility of heavy rains in some provinces of the South-West region. China’s National Meteorological Center has predicted heavy rain in at least seven of its provinces. The blue alert was issued afresh at 8 pm on Wednesday and will remain in force till 8 pm on Thursday.

China has a four-level colour-coded weather warning system, with red indicating the most severe warnings, followed by orange, yellow and blue. According to the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of rain in some parts of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, Yunnan. There is also a possibility of heavy rain in Tibet and Inner Mongolia.

The Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of more than 60 mm of rain per hour along with thunder and thunderstorms in some of these areas. China has advised local officials in these provinces to be prepared for rain. It has suggested schools and kindergartens to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of children, and asked drivers to avoid waterlogging and traffic jams on the road.

Last week, central China also received torrential rains, causing landslides, power outages and causing extensive damage to homes. Authorities closed tunnels and some bridges in Zhengzhou, a major city in Henan province, due to torrential rains.