Beijing Beware of Temperatures Above 40 Degrees Celsius

Beijing and several cities in northern China were hit by a heat wave. Temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius or more.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

AP PHOTO/ANDY WONG

Two children rest while holding an electric fan to ward off the heat during a break not far from the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, on Sunday (25/6/2023). In the past week, Beijing and several cities in northern China have been hit by scorching heat waves.

BEIJING, MONDAY - Over the weekend, residents of Beijing and some cities in northern China experienced a high increase in air temperature. Authorities issued a recommendation for residents, particularly parents and children, to limit their outdoor activities.

The Nanjiao Observatory in South Beijing has been monitoring the air temperature in the Chinese capital since early last week and has recorded a temperature surge over the past three days. From Thursday (22/6/2023) until Sunday (25/6/2023), for the first time, the Observatory noted that the air temperature in Beijing had surpassed 40 degrees Celsius. According to the city's weather bureau, this is the highest temperature Beijing has experienced since May 29, 2014.

High air temperature is also felt by residents of Hebei Province and the port city of Tianjin. Local weather office reported that air temperature in both areas reached 40 degrees Celsius in the last few days. The high air temperature in the region has prompted the local government to issue an extreme weather warning, which means the most severe weather conditions that have the potential to endanger health and safety.

Read also: Vietnam and China Hit by Heat Wave

Last week, the air temperature in Beijing reached 41.1 degrees Celsius. This is the highest temperature ever recorded in the capital city until the third week of June 2023. However, the air temperature recorded last Thursday was still slightly below the highest temperature record ever recorded in Beijing, which was almost 42 degrees Celsius, which occurred on July 24, 1999.

AP PHOTO/ANDY WONG

Two women tried to reduce the scorching heat by sticking cold drinks to their heads while walking under the hot sun in Beijing, China, on Wednesday (21/6/2023). In the past week, Beijing and several cities in northern China have been hit by a scorching heat wave.

In addition to Beijing, the cities of Hebei and Shandong were hit by a heat wave last week. This situation has prompted China's national weather bureau to issue a warning of a heat wave, two weeks earlier than in previous years.

Chinese weather experts say that the heat wave that is currently hitting the capital city and some northern cities is due to warm air masses meeting with high pressure air in the atmosphere. This situation is exacerbated by thin cloud cover and longer periods of sunlight due to the summer season. Beijing weather authorities are urging residents to avoid outdoor exercise for extended periods of time and protect themselves from the sun.

Also read: A Heat Wave Roasting Asia Likely due to Climate Change

Death

Heat waves throughout June have also struck several countries, resulting in serious impacts, even deaths. In Mexico, the heat wave has resulted in eight deaths, the highest death toll since April 2023. The Ministry of Health stated that the majority of the deaths were due to dehydration and intense heat.

The highest death toll due to heat wave attacks occurred in India. Since last week, Indian health authorities have recorded 100 deaths caused by heat wave attacks and it is feared that the number will continue to rise.

AP PHOTO/MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

A motorcyclist in Beijing, China, drank water from a bottle while riding under the scorching sun on Saturday (24/6/2023). Chinese weather and health authorities encourage people to reduce outdoor activities and consume water to reduce the risk of dehydration in hot weather.

Also read: Heat Wave in India

Indian Express last week reported that a hospital in Ballia, a district in Uttar Pradesh province, recorded 80 deaths in the region since mid-June. The temperature in the region once reached 46 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile in neighboring Bihar, India's broadcaster, NDTV, reported that 50 residents had died due to a heat wave.

A number of crematoriums not far from the flow of the Ganges River in Mahaveer Ghat, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, quoted from The Hindu, also had to increase their operating hours. Hrishikesh Pandey, a resident of Ballia, said the sight he saw there reminded him of when the Covid-19 wave hit the area two years ago.

Other countries in Asia have experienced deadly heat waves in recent weeks, which scientists say have been exacerbated by rising global temperatures due to the burning of fossil fuels. Maximiliano Herrera, a climate historian, quoted by the BBC, said this year the Asia region is experiencing its worst heat wave in history.

Read also: A Warming World and the Heat Wave New Normal

A study by World Weather Attribution, an academic group researching extreme heat sources, stated that the heat wave that hit Asia last April was triggered by climate change. Researchers believe that between this year and 2027, the world will experience a temperature increase above 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Emmanuel Raju, a researcher based in Copenhagen, Denmark, stated that the impact of heat waves and extreme temperature increases will affect the poor, refugees, farmers, plantation land owners, and even construction workers. (AP / AFP / REUTERS)