BEIJING - China's meteorological authority on Saturday renewed its orange alert for heavy rain across much of the country in the coming two days.

Thunderstorms will hit the provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, with precipitation reaching 240 millimeters in some areas, the National Meteorological Center said on its website.

The center suggested people reduce outdoor activities and take precautions against possible floods and landslides.

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