Temperatures in Beijing yesterday hit a record for mid-June of 39.4 degrees Celsius, China’s meteorological authority said, warning the public to stay indoors.
“At around 2.30pm on June 16, the temperature at Beijing’s Nanjiao observatory hit 39.4 degrees Celsius, breaking the record high for mid-June,” the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) wrote in a social media post.
The CMA said the coming days would see temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius in Beijing, adding that “the public should reduce the duration of outdoor activity and beware of heatstroke”.
Beijing is under an orange alert for high temperatures -- the second-highest warning level.
Eight provincial capitals across the country recorded their highest temperatures of the year on Thursday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with many countries experiencing deadly heatwaves and temperatures hitting records across Asia in recent weeks.
Multiple locations in Hebei province were under red alert - the highest - for temperatures over 40C yesterday.
In the capital, road surface temperatures exceeded 50C, “which can easily cause road damage, vehicle tyre blowout, spontaneous combustion and other traffic accidents”, city meteorologist Lei Lei told Xinhua.
Beijing’s previous record temperature for mid-June was 39.1C on June 13, 2000, according to the CMA.
The Communist Party-run Beijing Daily advised readers yesterday to stay hydrated, suggesting the traditional sweet drink of mung bean soup or drinks containing electrolytes.