North China braces for scorching temperatures as heat wave grips region

Meteorological experts warned on Thursday of a heat wave expected to engulf parts of North China this weekend, with temperatures exceeding historical records in some areas.

The National Meteorological Center's chief forecaster, Yang Shunan, said at an online news conference that high temperatures will hit areas including Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Shandong, Beijing, Tianjin, and Inner Mongolia starting Saturday. Some locations are expected to see highs surpassing 35 degrees Celsius.

"The heat will intensify further," Yang added, "with peak temperatures occurring between Monday and Thursday. Local areas may see temperatures approaching or exceeding historical records for this period."

Yang explained that a continental high-pressure ridge is the primary driver of the heatwave, with areas like Hebei, Henan, and Shandong potentially experiencing scorching temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

The National Climate Center's chief forecaster, Zheng Zhihai, noted that China has already experienced its warmest spring and May on record since 1961. Eastern parts of Northwest China, Inner Mongolia, and western North China saw spring temperatures 2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than usual.

"This global heatwave is linked to anomalous high-pressure circulation patterns, a consequence of global warming," Zheng stated. "China can expect to see earlier and more frequent high-temperature days this summer compared to normal."

Zheng also addressed the potential impact of La Nina, a weather pattern characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. While La Nina can bring widespread cooling, Zheng expects it to develop later in the summer and have minimal influence on China's current heatwave.