China's national observatory on Monday issued three weather alerts as heavy rain, severe convective storms and dense fog continued to affect large parts of southern China. Forecasters warned that thunderstorms and tornadoes could occur in some areas.

The National Meteorological Center renewed a yellow alert for severe convective weather on Monday morning. From 2 pm Monday to 2 pm Tuesday, parts of Southwest China, the eastern and southern regions south of the Yangtze River, and central and northern South China are expected to experience thunderstorms with winds exceeding 62 kilometers per hour or hail.

Some areas in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guizhou and Guangdong, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, could see thunderstorm winds above 89 km/h, according to the center.

The observatory also warned of heavy rainfall during the same period. Parts of Southwest China, the central and eastern regions south of the Yangtze River, and South China are forecast to experience short-duration heavy rainfall, with hourly precipitation exceeding 20 millimeters. In some areas of southern Jiangxi, northeastern Guangxi, and central and northern Guangdong, hourly rainfall could exceed 50 millimeters, with peak precipitation possibly surpassing 80 millimeters, the center said.

Severe weather has already disrupted daily life and public events in several cities. On Sunday, Guangzhou experienced its strongest convective storm of the year so far, bringing heavy rain, hail and powerful gusts to the city center. The storms also affected live entertainment activities, as a concert in Guangzhou was forced to cancel midway after heavy rain caused sound, lighting and control systems to malfunction.

Meteorological experts cautioned that over the next three days, eastern and central areas south of the Yangtze River, South China, and eastern parts of Southwest China will face widespread rainfall and severe convective weather.

They urged authorities and the public to remain alert to the potential impact of localized heavy rainfall, strong winds and hail on transportation, facility agriculture, and urban operations. Preventive measures should also be taken against possible secondary disasters such as mountain floods, geological hazards and waterlogging in farmland.