BEIJING - China has issued the first yellow alert for high temperatures this year, with temperatures expected to top 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong will experience temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center forecast on Wednesday.

Beijing last saw the temperature in May surpassing 38 degrees Celsius in 1968, according to the center.

Some parts of Tibet, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi and Guangdong will be hit by torrential rain.

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