Southern China is expected to experience frequent rainfall and localized torrential downpours accompanied by severe convective weather during the upcoming May Day holiday from May 1 to 5, the National Climate Center said Wednesday.

In contrast, northern regions will see mostly sunny to cloudy skies with fluctuating temperatures. A brief cooling is forecast for May 1 to 2, followed by a gradual rebound, it said.

Yuan Jiashuang, deputy director of the center, said there will be two main weather processes during the holiday period. Light to moderate rain is expected in parts of Northwest China and areas south of the Yellow River from May 1 to 2, intensifying into heavy to torrential rain in regions south of the Yangtze River and parts of southern China from May 2 to 3.

A second round of rainfall is forecast from May 4 to 5, mainly affecting southern regions including parts of South China, Guizhou province and Chongqing municipality. "Some areas in South China could see heavy rain or storms," Yuan said.

Strong winds are also expected over the East China Sea during the holiday, she added.

Given the weather conditions, Yuan said northern China will be comfortable for travel. Popular destinations such as Beijing, Hebei province, Shandong province and much of northeastern China are expected to offer suitable conditions for outdoor activities including sightseeing, hiking and coastal travel.

Travelers heading to southern destinations should closely monitor weather forecasts and warnings, as heavy rainfall could trigger flooding, landslides and other hazards, forecasters said.

"Travel plans should be adjusted in a timely manner based on weather conditions to ensure safety," Yuan said.

In addition, May is likely to bring above-average rainfall to parts of northern and eastern China, while temperatures across most regions will be near or slightly above seasonal norms. Risks of heat waves, forest fires and dust storms in arid northern regions are also expected to increase, according to the center.