BEIJING - China's meteorological authority maintained its yellow alert Friday, as a heat wave is expected to sweep across many regions of the country.

Temperatures are expected to rise above 35 degrees Celsius in Beijing and Tianjin as well as parts of Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and Shandong, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

Some areas will see temperatures reach between 37 and 40 degrees Celsius, it added.

The NMC advised people in affected regions to take precautions against heat stroke and fire.

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