Chongqing has issued a red high-temperature alert signal for 10 consecutive days, and temperatures are expected to remain above 40 degrees for the next week. Since entering August, the number of days with high temperatures in the Sichuan-Chongqing region has exceeded 25, with temperatures surpassing 40°C in many areas, leading to delayed school openings in multiple locations.
On the morning of August 30, at 11 o’clock, the Chongqing Meteorological Observatory once again issued a red high-temperature alert signal, marking the 10th consecutive day of such alerts since August 21.
Since August, Chongqing has experienced 15 days with temperatures above 37°C, which is 7 days more than the same period in previous years. There are already 30 districts with temperatures exceeding 40°C, and the heatwave continues to persist.
The number of consecutive days with temperatures reaching 40°C in Chongqing has reached 10, ranking behind only the years 2022, 2016, and 2006. According to current forecasts, Chongqing is expected to endure temperatures above 40°C for at least the next 7 days. Meteorologists in Chongqing predict that the total number of hot days this year will be slightly lower than the 22 days in 2022, possibly ranking as the second highest in history.
Due to the persistent high temperatures, several districts in Chongqing started announcing delayed school openings from the afternoon of August 28.
Various districts in Chongqing have issued announcements for the delay of the fall semester, including Yuzhong District, Shapingba District, Liangjiang New Area, Jiangbei District, Yubei District, Nanan District, Jiulongpo District, Beibei District, Banan District, Dadukou District, Nanchuan District, Hechuan District, Jiangjin District, Yongchuan District, Bishan District, Tongliang District, Wanzhou District, Rongchang District, Wulong District, Kaizhou District, Liangping County, Changshou County, Fuling District, Qijiang District, Dazu District, Tongnan District, Qianjiang District, Zhongxian County, Yunyang County, Fengdu County, Dianjiang County, Wuxi County, Wushan County, Shizhu County, Fengjie County, Xiushan County, Pengshui County, and Shuicheng County.
The announcements from various districts specify that due to the continued hot weather, the official start of the fall semester for primary and secondary schools (kindergartens) will be delayed until September 9.
Due to the hot weather, forest fire risk levels in most areas of Chongqing have reached the highest level of five (extreme danger), leading to the closure of some scenic areas and the issuance of forest closure orders.
Meanwhile, Sichuan has also issued red high-temperature alerts for 8 consecutive days. Cities in Sichuan such as Zigong, Nanchong, Suining, Luzhou, Leshan, Meishan, and Ziyang have announced delays in the start of schools, including primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, until September 9.
According to China Weather Network, in the upcoming week, eastern Sichuan and Chongqing will continue to experience rare hot weather with temperatures ranging from 40 to 43 degrees. This current heatwave is expected to persist uninterrupted at least until early September, with daily high temperatures lasting for as long as 8 to 12 hours.