Historic Heatwave Hits Beijing: China’s Capital Sees Record-Breaking June Temperature
“Beijing Records Hottest June Temperature in Over 60 Years”
Beijing recently experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with Chinese weather authorities confirming that the temperature soared to 41.1°C (105.9°F). This marks the hottest June day the city has seen in more than six decades.
The scorching temperatures have persisted, and the heatwave is expected to continue until the end of June. This year has seen several monthly heat records being broken across China, raising concerns about potential energy shortages. In May, Shanghai, the country’s largest city with a population of 25 million, recorded its hottest day in a century.
Beijing, with a population of over 21 million and serving as the nation’s capital in the north, faced even higher temperatures. On Thursday, the mercury reached a high of 41.8°C in the northern part of the city. Authorities issued an orange alert, the second-highest weather warning level, predicting temperatures to remain around 39°C until Saturday.
As a precautionary measure, local authorities in Beijing, Tianjin, and other cities in northern and eastern China advised people to limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day and seek medical help if experiencing symptoms of heatstroke. Energy conservation measures were also encouraged, and the National Energy Administration conducted emergency drills to prepare for potential power outages.
These extreme heat events and heatwaves are linked to global climate change. Recent studies have shown that climate change has increased the likelihood of heatwaves in Asia by 30 times. The region has witnessed rising temperatures of at least 2°C during heatwaves, which experts describe as the most severe in its history. Countries such as Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, and India experienced record-breaking temperatures exceeding 45°C in April, leading to fatalities, hospitalizations, and damage to infrastructure.
Heatwaves are considered one of the most dangerous natural hazards globally, causing a significant number of deaths each year.
