Number of high-temperature days in many parts of China reaches 5 to 8 since July

Since July, the number of high-temperature days in the Huanghuai, Jianghuai, Jianghan, and Jiangnan regions of China has generally ranged from five to eight days, with some areas experiencing continuous high temperatures for nine to 13 days, the People's Daily reported on Thursday, citing data from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). 

On Thursday morning, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) continued to issue an orange alert for high temperatures. It is expected that during the day of Thursday, most areas from the Guanzhong of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province to the south of the central and western parts of the Huanghuai region, most of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the western part of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is expected to experience temperatures above 35 C.

In the past two days, this round of high temperatures entered its peak phase, with 1,400 national meteorological observation stations in 29 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) recording temperatures above 35 C, said the CMA.

The maximum temperatures in Xi'an, Xianyang, Baoji, and other locations in Shaanxi exceeded 42 C, while the Dongkan National Meteorological Observation Station in Turpan, Xinjiang recorded temperature of 45.7 C. 

Over the past two days, maximum temperatures at eight national meteorological observation stations broke historical records, according to the CMA. In the first week of July, more than 100 national meteorological observation stations across the country broke nighttime temperature records. For example, in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province, the daily minimum temperature stood at 29 C, the administration said.  

Against the backdrop of global warming, the baseline temperatures in most regions of the country have already risen by over 2 C. Compounding this effect is the stable high-pressure system formed by the merging of subtropical and continental warm highs - also known as a "heat dome," Sun Shao, a senior researcher at Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Once a heat dome develops, areas under its influence are prone to prolonged and extreme high temperatures, Sun noted.

In addition, the frequency of extreme temperatures related to climate change has increased, significantly exacerbating the negative impacts on human health, according to a Chinese research team. 

In response, local governments have implemented measures to cope with the heat.

Such as in Yuncheng, North China's Shanxi, the local city environmental sanitation department intensified the spraying efforts on the roads to suppress dust and lower the temperature. The local city service stations are open to the public for free 24 hours a day, where outdoor workers can go to the service stations at any time to replenish water, escape the summer heat and rest. 

The meteorological observatory of Shanxi predicts that on Thursday, the high-temperature weather will continue, with the highest outdoor temperature in some areas of southern Shanxi reaching 42 C, according to China Central Television.

According to the forecast of the NMC, in the coming week, high temperatures above 35 C will persist in southern and central parts of north China's Hebei Province, Huanghuai, Jianghan, Jianghuai, Jiangnan, Guanzhong, and the Sichuan Basin, with the maximum temperature in some areas reaching 39 to 42 C. The heatwave is expected to ease starting from July 21.