China's weather authority on Wednesday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms likely to linger in southern and eastern provinces.

From Wednesday to Friday, heavy rains are expected in Chongqing municipality and in Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, the National Meteorological Center said.

Parts of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Fujian provinces will also see heavy rain, with precipitation forecast to reach up to 180 millimeters.