As many parts of China enter the peak of scorching heat, temperatures continue to soar to historic highs, leading to a significant increase in electricity consumption and strained power supply. The high temperatures also raise health risks for the elderly and outdoor workers.
During a press conference by the China Meteorological Administration on July 23, Jia Xiaolong, Deputy Director of the National Climate Center, issued a warning that by mid-August, the highest temperatures in many regions may exceed historical records for the same period.
According to statistics from the China Meteorological Administration, since July 11, 152 national-level meteorological stations across the country have observed temperatures exceeding 40°C, with 102 stations breaking July’s historical temperature records. Among them, 32 stations, including Turpan East Kan in Xinjiang (48.7°C), Xingping in Shaanxi (43.1°C), and Badong in Hubei (42.9°C), have surpassed historical records.
Jia Xiaolong pointed out that Shaanxi, Hubei, Shandong, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and other regions have experienced varying degrees of extreme heat. The national average temperature since the start of the rainy season is 16.8°C, the second-highest for the same period in history, with an average of 8.5 days of high temperatures, the highest on record.
The hot weather also poses a serious challenge to China’s electricity supply. According to a report by Reuters, last week China’s electricity demand surpassed 1.5 billion kilowatts for the first time, marking the third new high this month.
Official from the China Meteorological Administration, Chen Hui, stated during a press conference on Wednesday (23rd), “The high temperatures will impact electricity production and supply.” He added that this situation would reduce hydroelectric power generation capacity and solar power efficiency. Relevant departments need to take emergency measures such as “peak shaving” and inter-regional dispatch to address the possible peak in electricity consumption.
The Climate Center predicts that by mid-August, southern North China, central and northern East China, most of Central China, eastern parts of Southwest China, eastern parts of Northwest China, southern Xinjiang, and western Inner Mongolia will experience another round of phase-specific high-temperature weather, with the possibility of some areas breaking historical temperature records once again.
Although the likelihood of breaking the record for consecutive days is relatively low, it is necessary to remain vigilant about locally catastrophic high temperatures.
In addition, the meteorological department has noted frequent heavy rainfall in localized areas recently, with 153 national meteorological stations recording daily precipitation exceeding monthly records. From July 23 to 26, the eastern part of Northwest China, central-western Inner Mongolia, North China, and Northeast China are expected to experience heavy to torrential rains, with the possibility of severe convective weather in some areas.
From July 26 to 30, there will be light to moderate rainfall in the central and eastern parts of the Jiangnan region, Jianghuai, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, western Sichuan Plateau, and central-western Yunnan, with some areas experiencing heavy rain and localized heavy showers.