China's Central Meteorological Station forecast Tuesday that lingering heat would persist in the south while more rain is expected to hit the northeastern regions during the next three days.

The observatory continued to issue an orange alert Tuesday, warning that temperatures are likely to hit 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan and Shaanxi, while provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hunan may see temperatures of 40 degrees during the next three days.

Temperature topped 37 degrees Tuesday in Nanjing city of eastern Jiangsu Province, local weather officials said. It warned people against being exposed to the sun for extended periods as hot weather increased the risk of heat strokes.

Meanwhile, the north and northeastern regions will experience heavy rains, according to the forecast. Rain storms are expected during the coming three days in Inner Mongolia, and the northeastern provinces of Liaoning and Jilin, where rain-triggered floods have left at least 100 people dead or missing over the past two months.

The observatory also warned local bureaus to closely monitor the weather and avoid further losses due to floods and landslides.