Beijing: China finds itself sweltering under scorching temperatures this week, with record highs scalding parts of the north and central regions. Meanwhile, an ominous drought looms over the eastern provinces, posing a dire threat to crop yields. Across Asia, nations brace themselves for the onslaught of yet another summer fraught with extreme weather challenges.
According to the state weather forecaster, northern Hebei province is set to sizzle with temperatures soaring as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107.6°F) on Wednesday. The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) issued a late-night warning on Tuesday, highlighting the potential repercussions of the blistering heat on energy resources, agricultural output, and public health.
China has been grappling with uncharacteristically warm weather throughout the year. Official data reveals that average temperatures from March to May hit unprecedented levels since record-keeping began in 1961. Recent statistics from the NMC indicate that over 20 weather stations across northern Hebei and eastern Shandong provinces have reported record seasonal highs during the initial ten days of June.
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Meanwhile, northern India finds itself besieged by an enduring heatwave, with temperatures surging past the 50-degree Celsius mark in late May. The nation’s national disease control center reported nearly 25,000 cases of heat stroke and 56 fatalities since March 1st.
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The scorching temperatures are reminiscent of April’s record-breaking heatwave that swept across Asia, claiming numerous lives, ravaging crops, and prompting school closures. Scientists underscored the exacerbation of heatwaves by human-induced climate change, warning of their heightened frequency and intensity.
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The oppressive heat is projected to persist across northern China until June 20th, with historical highs anticipated in Hebei, Shanxi, and central Henan province, as per NMC forecasts. In Shandong’s Mengyin County, authorities have resorted to unconventional measures such as artificial rainmaking to combat an unprecedented drought gripping the region this year.
