Heat wave sweeping across China could be unprecedented

Straits Times

15-07-2025

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A person holds up a fan to cover her face from sunlight amid a yellow alert for heat in Shanghai on July 4.
China is experiencing a relentless heat wave with temperatures forecast to exceed 40 deg C in parts of the country as residents prepare for the summer season to reach its peak on July 20.
This week, scorching weather is expected to hit various parts of China, according to a warning issued on China Central Television's National Emergency Broadcasting WeChat account on July 13.
In parts of Hebei and Shaanxi provinces, temperatures could surge as high as 42 deg C, creating sweltering conditions that are challenging historical records for this time of year.
Cities including Zhengzhou in Henan province and Xi'an in Shaanxi province are facing six days of scorching heat, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 deg C.
Zhengzhou may even witness 42 deg C on July 15, a close second to the city's highest recorded temperature of 43 deg C back in July 1966.
The oppressive heat is not just limited to daytime hours, as night temperatures in many areas, including the basins of the Yellow and Huaihe rivers, are hovering around 30 deg C, an unusual occurrence for this time of year.
Meteorologist Zhu Dingzhen said that over the past few years, he has observed how the summer heat in northern cities such as Beijing has started to resemble that of regions further south.
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'Sauna days have grown longer, and even shaded spots in parks in Beijing are now sprouting moss, an uncommon sight before.
'The other day, I observed that the capital's relative humidity has hit 90 per cent, whereas it stands at a mere 45 per cent in Nanjing, Jiangsu province,' he said.
According to yearly data, the atmospheric water content has been on the rise.
Data from the Beijing Meteorological Service showed that the average relative humidity of the city from 2013 to 2022 has increased by 5 to 10 per cent compared to the period spanning 2003 to 2012, with this change more prominent during the summer months.
'However, it's premature to categorise the shift as warming and humidifying as fluctuations are inherent in nature.
'Monitoring climate change needs a 30-year observation period. Only when a consistent pattern is observed over this time frame can we assert a climate shift,' Mr Zhu said.
He added that when discussing disaster prevention and mitigation, authorities should focus on reaping benefits while averting harm.
'China's water conservation infrastructure has improved, and early warning and monitoring capabilities have been bolstered, alongside efforts to prevent flood-related disasters. Harnessing aerial water resources should secure a prominent place on the agenda,' he said. CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK