BEIJING - China's drought-hit northeast provinces are awaiting rainfalls while the southwestern part of the country will see thunderstorms during the next three days, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Monday.

The NMC said moderate to heavy rains will hit parts of the northeastern Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces, as well as Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Monday and Tuesday.

Precipitation is expected to reach up to 65 mm in the northeast and 120mm in the southwest. It will be accompanied by thunderstorm and gales.

They also forecast heavy and torrential rains in southwestern Sichuan and Hubei provinces, as well as Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday and Wednesday.