BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory has renewed an orange alert for heavy rain on Sunday and Monday.

From Sunday to Monday morning, heavy rain is expected to hit parts of Henan, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, and Liaoning, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Some areas in Shandong, Hebei, and Liaoning are expected to experience downpours of up to 280 mm within 24 hours, the NMC forecast.

The center advised local governments to take precautions against possible flooding, landslides, and mudslides caused by the heavy rain and recommended outdoor activities be halted in hazardous areas.

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