Last Updated on 2022/07/22
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As temperatures rise, China prepared for an even hotter weekend.
Millions of Chinese residents are prepared for even hotter weather this weekend, as more than a dozen cities have issued red alerts, the highest level of heat warning.
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Temperatures in 19 cities in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian are likely to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next 24 hours, according to China’s Meteorological Administration. Another 208 cities and counties in China are under orange alert, the second highest heat warning, indicating temperatures of more than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to China’s National Climate Center, the country has been dealing with persistently high temperatures since June, with an average temperature of 22.1 degrees Celsius (almost 72 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest since 1961.
At least 71 national weather stations in China have registered record temperatures in recent weeks. Temperatures in three cities in the central province of Hebei and one in the southwest province of Yunnan reached 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit).
This warning applies to southern and eastern China regions, including Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and sections of Anhui and Henan. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the heatwave coincides with the “Great Heat” on Saturday, which is usually the hottest day.
During hot weather, the Central Meteorological Observatory of China advises people to avoid outdoor activities, reduce work hours, and take precautions against heatstroke. According to a Lancet report released in 2020, heat wave-related mortality in China has grown considerably since 1990, reaching 26,800 fatalities in 2019.
The Chinese government produced a new policy statement earlier this year to enhance its response to climate change, which it claimed was not only causing long-term issues but also making the country more vulnerable to “sudden and catastrophic” occurrences such as heat waves, drought, and flooding.
The Chinese government pledged to transform the country into a “climate-resilient society” by 2035, including establishing a countrywide system for monitoring and assessing climate hazards and improving early warning capabilities.