BEIJING - China's meteorological authorities on Saturday forecast rainstorms for the nation's northern areas over the next three days and a heat wave in the south.

Heavy rains and rainstorms will hit northern parts of North and Northeast China from Saturday to Monday, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement posted on its website.

During the period, torrential rains will batter eastern parts of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, central-western parts of Heilongjiang province, western parts of Jilin province, central parts of Liaoning province, northeastern parts of Beijing and Hebei province and northern parts of Tianjin, with precipitation reaching up to 120 mm in some regions, the center said.

On Sunday and Monday, regions west of the Yellow River in Gansu province, central parts of Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, southern parts of Hebei and northern parts of Shandong province will see downpours, with precipitation in some parts amounting to 110 mm, the center said.' ?

Meanwhile, heavy rains and rainstorms are likely to hit most parts of Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from Saturday to Monday, and some areas will also see downpours, the center said.

In the same period, a heat wave is expected to scorch regions along the Yangtze, Huai and Han rivers and Chongqing municipality, with temperatures rising up to 38 degrees Celsius, it added.