On Saturday, state media reported ground surface temperatures in excess of 70C in parts of Shandong – China’s most populous province after Guangdong, and a key grower of grain.
The heatwaves, the second round in about 10 days, were caused by warm air masses associated with high pressure ridges in the atmosphere. The effect was amplified by thin cloud cover and long daylight hours around the summer solstice, according to Chinese meteorologists.
In Beijing between 1990 and 2020, the average number of days with temperatures of 35C or more was 10.6, the official Beijing Daily reported, citing official data.
June is not yet over and that number has already been beaten, the newspaper said, after temperatures in Beijing surpassed 35C for the 11th day this year on Saturday.
On Friday, Beijing baked in temperatures as high as 40.3C, after sizzling at 41.1C on Thursday, the second-hottest day recorded by the Chinese capital in modern times.
Beijing’s all-time high of 41.9C was recorded on Jul 24, 1999.
The heat waves in northern China are expected to abate by Monday before regaining strength later in the week.Â
Source: CNA
