Beijing surpasses 40 degrees Celsius for first time in nearly a decade

A weather station in the southern suburbs that serves as Beijing's main gauge recorded 40.7 degrees Celsius at 2:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, the first time it has hit 40 degrees Celsius since May 29, 2014. At 3:19 p.m., the temperature rose to 41.1 degrees Celsius.

Beijing crossed the 40 degree mark for the first time in nearly a decade. — Extreme heat is occurring in many Asian countries, such as China, India and Vietnam. Photo: Reuters

Today was even Beijing's hottest day in June since modern meteorological records began. The previous all-time high was recorded on June 10, 1961, when the temperature rose to 40.6 degrees Celsius.

"It's never been this hot in June before, but now it's so hot that my hands are shaking," one Weibo user wrote. "Are three suns shining on Beijing right now?" another asked.

In the small town of Tanghekou in northeast Beijing, temperatures even reached 41.8 degrees Celsius, earning the title of hottest spot in China on Thursday.

Beijing, a city of nearly 22 million people, issued an orange alert, its second-highest weather warning, saying temperatures could reach 39 degrees Celsius from Thursday to Saturday.

Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong in northern and eastern China were hit by heatwaves last week, with the national weather agency issuing heatstroke warnings, nearly two weeks earlier than in previous years.

Heat waves have also prompted authorities to step up efforts to protect crops, ensure tourist safety and halt outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.

Beijing's weather bureau urged people to "avoid long-term outdoor exercise... and take effective measures to shield themselves from the sun".

In Tianjin, a port city with a population of more than 13 million, surging demand for air conditioning pushed the grid load to 14.54 million kilowatts on June 15, up 23 percent from a year earlier; prompting the city to dispatch workers to patrol underground tunnels daily to ensure power cables were in good working order.

On Thursday, temperatures in the inner city of Tianjin hit 41.2 degrees Celsius, breaking a local record. The city also issued an orange alert. Officials said “the public should maintain awareness and take precautions” against heatstroke.

Scientists say rising global temperatures – largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels – are exacerbating extreme weather around the world. Many countries in Asia have experienced deadly heatwaves and record temperatures in recent weeks.

Huy Hoang (according to CNA, Reuters)

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