China’s National Meteorological Center renewed a yellow alert on Thursday as a severe heat wave gripped much of the country. This heat wave arrives during sanfu, the traditional “dog days” period marking summer’s hottest stretch. Consequently, forecasters expect temperatures to surpass 40 C in parts of Xinjiang, Sichuan and Chongqing. Indeed, the center projected highs between 35 C and 36 C across a wide swath of the nation. This includes Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei and eastern Sichuan. Meanwhile, some areas could see readings climb to 37 C or 39 C. Additionally, northern Xinjiang’s Turpan Basin and western Chongqing may exceed 40 C entirely.
Beijing already felt the brunt of this heat wave on Wednesday. Over 80 percent of the city’s weather stations recorded highs of 35 C or more. Furthermore, the Nanjiao Observatory logged a peak of 36 C that same day. Fortunately, relief should arrive by Friday as temperatures gradually ease afterward. This ongoing heat wave has strained China’s power grid considerably in recent days. National electricity demand hit a record 1.551 billion kilowatts on Tuesday alone. Moreover, cross-regional power transmission reached 278 million kilowatts to help secure nationwide supplies. Therefore, energy officials continue monitoring the grid closely as demand keeps climbing.
In response, local governments have rolled out extensive heat-relief measures for residents. Chongqing issued its first high-temperature red alert this year and deployed water-spraying vehicles. Similarly, Jiangxi Province activated cooling stations and distributed drinking water to outdoor workers. Meanwhile, Shaanxi’s Ankang city adjusted work schedules and handed out traditional herbal remedies. Ultimately, this heat wave underscores the growing strain extreme weather places on infrastructure and public health. Going forward, authorities will likely maintain heightened alert levels as sanfu continues through summer.
