In northern China, the thermometer exceeded 40 degrees for the third consecutive day. For this reason, the highest heat alert level has been declared in the capital Beijing and parts of the neighboring provinces of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Tianjin. The heatwave in northern China is expected to subside on Monday, before strengthening again later in the week.
On Saturday, state media reported ground temperatures in excess of 70 degrees in parts of Shandong province, which is China’s second most populous province after Guangdong and an important area for growing grains. “Last year’s heatwave gives an indication of the risks to China’s food supply and the potential impact on prices,” Capital Economics said in a commentary.