Beijing and parts of northern China are seeing record temperatures and authorities are urging people to limit their time outdoors. The Nanjiao Observatory in south Beijing on Saturday recorded temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time for a third straight day, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Temperatures in nearby Hebei province and the port city of Tianjin have also soared to over 104 degrees in recent days, prompting authorities to issue “red” alerts amid extreme weather conditions. In China’s four-tier weather alert system, the red alert indicates the most severe conditions, according to the AP.
On Thursday, Beijing experienced the second warmest day since records began, with temperatures of up to 106 degrees. It was also the highest temperature ever recorded in China’s capital in June. The record high of 107 degrees in Beijing since modern records began was reached on July 24, 1999. Chinese meteorologists say the current heat wave was caused by warm air masses associated with high pressure ridges in the atmosphere, compounded by thin cloud cover and long daylight hours around the summer solstice.
Other countries in Asia have been experiencing deadly heatwaves in recent weeks, which scientists say are being made worse by rising global temperatures caused in part by burning fossil fuels. In China, the heatwave coincided with a three-day holiday, the Dragon Boat Festival, which features rice dumplings and racing boats powered by paddler teams. Beijing weather authorities urged residents to refrain from outdoor physical activity for long periods of time and take measures to protect themselves from the sun. Temperatures in the capital are expected to drop to a relatively balmy 93 degrees on Monday before rising again later next week.
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