BEIJING - China's meteorological authority on Friday maintained a blue alert, the lowest in a four-tier warning system, for rainstorms hitting some southern regions.

On Friday and Saturday, torrential rain will hit areas south of the Yangtze River, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said in a statement on its website.

Rain is expected to sweep Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Yunnan. Precipitation could reach up to 140 mm.

Some of these areas will also see thunderstorms, strong wind or hail, according to the statement.

The NMC suggested that people living in the affected areas should avoid outdoor activities and take precautions against possible landslides and mud-rock flows.

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