Eastern China continues to endure extreme temperatures, with severe heat expected to persist in major coastal cities within the highly industrialized provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang for up to 10 more days.
Recently, temperatures have soared to 43.9 degrees Celsius in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, and Xinjiang, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang, recorded a historical high of 41.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, August 3. The city, with a population of 12.5 million, is forecasted to experience temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius until August 11.
Chinese meteorologists attribute this year’s record heat to high continental temperatures driven by global warming, despite the La Nina phenomenon bringing cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
Earlier this year, China experienced its warmest spring since records began in 1961, followed by the hottest May on record. This led to drought-like conditions in central China in June, severely impacting crops and farming communities.
The extreme summer heat has led to a surge in electricity usage due to increased demand for air conditioning, raising concerns about a potential power supply crunch.
Since last month, Zhejiang’s State Grid has recommended that electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles late at night to alleviate pressure during peak hours. It has also advised residents to turn off air conditioning when temperatures are milder.
On Monday, the national weather forecaster warned of potential fire hazards due to excessive power consumption and electrical loads.
In the coming days, many areas around the Yangtze River delta can expect temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, with daily maximum temperatures at seven national weather stations breaking historical records.
On Sunday, Jiangsu’s observatory issued a red warning for heat after more than a week of sustained high temperatures intensified further. Cities such as Wuxi, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang could see temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius, according to CCTV.
Hangzhou is set to experience 10 consecutive days of temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, breaking its previous record of eight days set in 2013.
Source: Reuters