BEIJING - Rains will sweep drought-hit provinces in central China, while thunderstorms are forecast for quake-hit Yunnan province over the next three days, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Thursday.

The NMC said that the quake-hit region will see showers and thunderstorms in the coming days, with some areas to experience moderate and heavy rains.

The thirsty provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan and Hubei will welcome rain over the next three days, and parts of Gansu and Shaanxi will see heavy rains with precipitation up to 80 mm. Torrential rains will hit parts of the Sichuan Basin with precipitation up to 200 mm.

Scorching heat will hit southwest and south China, as well as areas to the south of the Yangtze River on Thursday.

Temperatures will reach up to 39 degrees Celsius in parts of the Sichuan Basin and 40 degrees Celsius in Chongqing Municipality.