Beijing raised its heat warning to “red,” the highest alert, as temperatures soared to 40°C (104°F) on Friday. The city’s southern suburbs recorded 40.3°C (104.54°F) by 4 p.m., the municipal observatory reported.
Zhang Yingxin, the chief forecaster, noted this was the first occurrence of over 40°C for two consecutive days since the observatory’s establishment in 1951.
A resident, Zhang, 28, expressed concern about the extreme heat but felt confident in managing it due to her youth while urging older individuals to stay indoors. On Thursday, Beijing’s temperature peaked at 41.1°C (105.98°F), breaking June records.
Beijing raises its heat warning to “red” as temperatures soar above 40°C, with the city’s weather station recording unprecedented highs. The southern suburbs weather station, Beijing’s main temperature gauge, recorded this new high, surpassing the previous June record of 40.6°C (105.08°F) set on June 10, 1961. Thursday’s peak was the second highest ever recorded in Beijing, following the 41.9°C (107.42°F) on July 24, 1999.
China’s weather alert system uses four colors, with red indicating the most severe conditions. A red alert means temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C (104°F) within 24 hours.
The China Meteorological Administration forecasted continued high temperatures in the north for the next eight to ten days, affecting regions such as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Inner Mongolia.
Tianjin, a northern port city with over 13 million residents, saw temperatures reach 41.2°C (106.16°F) on Thursday, setting regional records. Authorities warned about health risks from the prolonged heat, recommending people drink at least 1.5 liters of water daily and limit outdoor activities.