A new round of heavy rain is sweeping across southern China on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of localized downpours, thunderstorms and gusty winds as a cold front drives temperatures sharply lower from north to south.

The system will bring the heaviest rain to provinces including Guizhou, Hubei and Guangdong over the next three days, the National Meteorological Center said. Some areas may see torrential rain accompanied by short-term intense downpours and gales.

In northern China, rain will also expand, though precipitation is expected to be lighter. Most northern regions will return to sunny skies by Thursday.

Authorities urged residents to watch for slick roads and reduced visibility that could disrupt travel.

As the cold air pushes south, temperatures are set to tumble. Highs in the northeast, north and central regions, as far south as the Yangtze River Delta, could fall by as much as 10 C.

The cooling will first hit the northwest, north and northeast on Wednesday, then spread to southern China on Thursday and Friday, leaving temperatures below average for early May.

Meteorologists advised people to monitor forecasts and dress accordingly to avoid catching colds amid the abrupt weather shift.