A widespread heatwave has been ongoing in mainland China since July 2, 2026, with four heatwaves expected in August, posing the risk of scorching temperatures in many areas. By the end of July, unprecedented heat was experienced in northeastern regions, with Beijing already registering four consecutive days of temperatures reaching up to 39°C in the first five days of August.
According to the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, a yellow heat alert was issued on August 5, 2026, indicating that temperatures in the Beijing plain area could reach around 36°C from August 5 to 7 between 12:00 and 18:00.
On August 5 at 12:10, the temperature at the Beijing Observatory was recorded at 35°C with a relative humidity of 52%, resulting in a heat index of 39°C. The South Suburb Observatory, representing Beijing’s temperature, reached a high of 36.3°C on the same day, marking the capital’s seventh heatwave day of the summer.
In Beijing, a heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with temperatures equal to or surpassing 35°C, with a heatwave lasting for more than three such days. The heat warning system categorizes alerts into three levels: yellow for temperatures exceeding 35°C for three days, orange for temperatures rising above 37°C within 24 hours, and red for temperatures climbing to 40°C in the same timeframe.
Liaoning Province released an orange heat alert on August 4, forecasting temperatures of 37°C to 40°C in core hot zones from August 5 to 7, with some areas potentially exceeding 42°C.
From July 28 to August 3, Liaoning Province witnessed historically high average temperatures, with a 29.5°C average and a 33.6°C highest temperature deviation from normal levels by 4.7°C and 4.3°C respectively, marking the second highest in records since 1961. Nighttime lows in the provincial regions also reached a historical high, further intensifying the heatwave.
In response to the escalating heat conditions, the China Meteorological Administration held a press conference on August 4. Jia Xiaolong, Deputy Director of the National Climate Center, warned of prolonged and intense heatwaves affecting various regions, notably in the northern, eastern, and western parts of the country.
Jia Xiaolong highlighted that four significant heatwave periods are expected to impact mainland China in August, occurring from August 7 to 9, 11 to 14, 22 to 25, and 29 to 31.
Looking ahead, the Meteorological Administration projects sustained high temperatures in Xinjiang, western Inner Mongolia, and western Gansu over the next 10 days, with the Turpan Basin expecting temperatures exceeding 42°C. Southern parts of the Northeast, central and eastern North China, Huang-Huai, Yangtze, Jianghan, north and east Jiangnan, and eastern parts of South China will experience 5 to 7 days of high temperatures, with some areas reaching 38°C to 40°C. Parts of Liaoning and northern Shandong may observe temperatures close to or exceeding historical records.
China has encountered record-breaking heatwaves since July, with widespread areas facing scorching temperatures. National Climate Center’s Jia Xiaolong reported that the nationwide average temperature in July was 23.5°C, surpassing the normal level by 1.3°C and marking the second-highest in history. Xinjiang, Sichuan, and Chongqing recorded their highest average temperatures for the same period.
The relentless heatwave that began on July 2 continues to impact regions across China, with 40 national meteorological stations in provinces such as Ningxia, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Sichuan reporting temperatures exceeding 40°C, breaking historical records. The Aiding Lake Scenic Area in Xinjiang recorded a maximum temperature of 50.2°C, marking the first time in 2026 that a national-level station reported temperatures exceeding 50°C, with Sichuan (14.1 days) and Chongqing (22.7 days) witnessing the highest number of heatwave days in history.