BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- China's national weather observatory renewed a blue alert for rainstorms on Sunday, as southern and eastern areas will continue to be hit by heavy rain till Monday.

Heavy rain or storms may hit parts of Anhui, Chongqing, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shandong, and Zhejiang, while some of these areas may see gales and hail, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Rainfall could exceed 100 millimeters per hour in some regions, the NMC said.

The NMC warned local authorities to reduce outdoor activities and take precautions against strong winds, flooding, and geological disasters.

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