The National Meteorological Center said rainstorms will hit parts of southern China before May 10, warning authorities in the affected region to prevent possible geological disasters and minimize casualties and damage.

Ma Xuekuan, chief forecaster in the National Meteorological Center, said heavy rain with precipitation volume from 100 to 140 millimeters is expected to fall in parts of Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Chongqing, Guizhou and Yunnan.

He added severe convective storms with thunder or hail are also predicted in the above regions.

The National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for the coming rainstorms on May 9.

The Chinese meteorological authority uses a four-tier color-coded weather warning system with red being the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The weather report said most parts of northern China, such as Inner Mongolia, are expected to be hit by mild rainfall from May 9 to 12, while heavy rains in Heilongjiang and Jilin will cool the heat of the past week.

Quake-hit Lushan in Sichuan province will see mild rain on May 9 and cloudy days on May 10 and 11, the weather report said.