BEIJING - The National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast Sunday that scorching weather will linger in the south and rains will sweep the western and central regions over the next three days.

Heavy rains are expected to pound western China and eastern parts of central China within the following 24 hours, the NMC said.

Thunderstorms and gales will hit parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, it said.

Most of the country's southern areas and parts of its southwest will see temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

Among those regions, most of Chongqing Municipality, eastern parts of the Sichuan Basin and Guizhou Province will experience temperatures of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius.

Highest temperatures in the northern part of Chongqing and southeastern areas of the Sichuan Basin will exceed 40 degrees Celsius, said a statement on the NMC website.

The NMC expects high temperatures to be eased in the south starting August 22.

Enduring heat and scarce rain have caused drought in some areas of south China. A total of 26 counties have been hit by drought in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, with 149,713 hectares of farmland affected and 613,000 people short of drinking water.