As extreme weather conditions persist, numerous cities in China issued warnings for heatwaves and heavy rainfall on Friday. Residents across many regions are experiencing unprecedented weather patterns that could be recorded in the annals of history.
According to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), data collected from Wednesday to Thursday revealed that a staggering 2,830 weather stations nationwide recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, while 2,130 stations reported heavy rainfall.
On Friday morning, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) continued issuing orange warnings for high temperatures, the second-highest level on China’s four-tier weather warning system. The highest temperatures expected for Friday in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Shandong are forecasted to reach 40 degrees Celsius.
In response to the soaring temperatures, the CMA initiated a Level IV emergency response for high temperatures starting from 9 am on Friday.
Among the cities heavily affected by the heatwave, Beijing, the capital city in North China, faced substantial challenges. On Thursday, Beijing witnessed a scorching temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the all-time June temperature record of 40.6 degrees Celsius set in 1961. Furthermore, the same weather station reported a ground surface temperature of 71.8 degrees Celsius in the afternoon, marking the second-highest temperature ever recorded.
Most areas of Beijing experienced temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius or higher on Thursday, and weather forecasts indicate that these intense conditions will persist in the coming days.
On Friday morning, the Beijing Meteorological Station issued a red warning signal for high temperatures, the highest level on China’s four-tier weather warning system. The last time such a warning was issued in Beijing was back in 2014.
In the afternoon, Beijing once again recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Zhang Yingxin, the chief forecaster from the Beijing Meteorological Station, noted that this marked the first time since the establishment of meteorological observation stations in Beijing that temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius were recorded for two consecutive days.
According to the Beijing Meteorological Station, hot weather is expected to continue in Beijing from Friday to Sunday, with temperatures ranging from 37 to 40 degrees Celsius in most areas. By Monday, the high temperature is predicted to drop back to 34 degrees Celsius.
Zhao Wei, the chief forecaster of the Beijing Meteorological Station, described this round of heat as intense, long-lasting, and widespread. Zhao attributed the situation to a stronger warm air mass affecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region since Wednesday, which has persisted due to the influence of a high-pressure ridge. Clear skies without cloud cover enhance radiation warming and promote rising temperatures. Additionally, prolonged sunshine, low air humidity, and dry weather contribute to the maintenance of high temperatures.
Since 1951, Beijing has recorded a maximum of 11 days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius in June in a single year, achieved in 1952 and 2000, respectively. The city also witnessed a maximum of 5 days with temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius in 1952. As of Thursday, Beijing has already experienced nine days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius and five days with temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius in June 2023.
Meanwhile, Tianjin and Hebei, also located in North China, are grappling with extreme heat. The Tianjin Meteorological Station predicts central Tianjin’s temperatures to reach 40 degrees Celsius on Friday, while the meteorological station in Hebei Province forecasts temperatures between 41 and 42 degrees Celsius in many cities.
As northern China battles the heat, eastern and southern regions are confronting the threat of heavy rainfall. On Friday morning, the NMC issued a yellow warning