BEIJING, June 25 -- China's meteorological authority on Wednesday issued a blue alert, the lowest level in a four-tier warning system, for heavy rain in some southern and northeastern regions.

From Wednesday evening to Thursday, heavy rain or storms will hit regions along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, affecting provinces of Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) announced.

Torrential rain will be seen in some southwestern parts of Hubei and southern Anhui, the statement said.

The center added that heavy rain will also be seen in a vast part of the northeast, including the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang.

From Friday to Saturday, rain will become heavier in regions along the Yangtze River, the NMC said, warning local authorities to closely monitor the rain and take precautions against potential waterlogging, landslides and other disasters from the rain.

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