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Beijing and parts of northern China are experiencing record temperatures, with authorities urging people to limit their time outdoors.
The Nanjiao observatory in southern Beijing on Saturday for the first time recorded temperatures above 40C (104F) for a third consecutive day, according to the newspaper Beijing Daily, citing the national weather bureau.
Temperatures have also soared above 40C in recent days in nearby Hebei province and the port city of Tianjin, prompting authorities to issue red alerts for extreme weather.
In China’s four-tier weather alert system, red indicates the most severe conditions.
Beijing experienced its second-hottest day on record on Thursday – with temperatures soaring to 41.1C. It was also the highest temperature ever recorded in China’s capital during the month of June.
Beijing’s all-time high of 41.9C since modern records began was recorded on 24 July 1999.
Chinese meteorologists say the current heatwave has been caused by warm air masses associated with high-pressure ridges in the atmosphere and compounded by thin cloud cover and long daylight hours around the summer solstice.
Other countries in Asia have experienced deadly heatwaves in recent weeks, which scientists say are aggravated by rising global temperatures, caused partly by the burning of fossil fuels.
In China, the heatwave has coincided with a three-day public holiday, the Dragon Boat Festival, devoted to eating rice dumplings and racing boats propelled by teams of paddlers.
Beijing’s authorities urged residents to avoid exercising outdoors for long periods and to take measures to shield from the sun.
Temperatures in the capital are expected to drop to around 34C on Monday before rising again later next week.
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