China is currently facing severe weather conditions, with intense heat waves affecting the western regions and heavy rainstorms impacting the north. In Chongqing Municipality, located in southwest China, a red alert for high temperatures was issued on Monday, marking the sixth consecutive day under the nation’s highest-level heat warning.
According to the Chongqing Meteorological Service, temperatures are expected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius in 36 districts and counties on Monday. Local authorities have advised residents to take safety measures, such as limiting outdoor activities and being alert to potential fire hazards. In China’s three-tier high-temperature alert system, the red alert is the most severe, followed by orange and yellow. A red alert is issued when temperatures are predicted to exceed 40 degrees Celsius within a 24-hour period.
Known for its sweltering summers and often referred to as the “furnace city,” Chongqing is anticipated to experience two waves of rainfall in early September, which may gradually alleviate the ongoing heatwave.
In nearby Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, a red alert was also issued on Monday morning as temperatures in some areas were forecasted to exceed 40 degrees Celsius. This marked the fifth day in a row that Chengdu has issued this warning in 2024.
Simultaneously, northern China, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, is being battered by heavy rains. From 5 p.m. on Sunday to 2 p.m. on Monday, Beijing recorded an average rainfall of 74.5 mm, with the heaviest downpour reaching 173.7 mm at Yongshun Park in Tongzhou District, according to the Beijing Meteorological Service.
Tianjin Municipality raised its rainstorm alert level on Monday morning after experiencing the most significant rainfall of this year’s flood season. From 7 a.m. Sunday to noon on Monday, the city’s average rainfall was 78 mm, with a maximum of 271.3 mm recorded. Lu Huanzhen, chief forecaster at the Tianjin Meteorological Service, indicated that rain would continue throughout the day, though it is expected to weaken by the afternoon. As a precaution, over 200 residents have been relocated to safer areas.
On Monday, the Hebei provincial meteorological bureau maintained an orange alert for heavy rain. Around midday, Hebei escalated its emergency response to major meteorological disasters (heavy rainfall) to Level II, the second-highest level, marking the first time this year such a warning has been issued in the province.
In Shanxi Province, authorities initiated an emergency flood response on Sunday night in the cities of Taiyuan, Jinzhong, and Linfen. The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters have cautioned about continued heavy rainfall and urged residents to stay vigilant against potential flooding risks.
