4 provinces saw hottest May since ’61

Four areas of China have just experienced their hottest May since records began in 1961, with the temperature nationwide hitting an average 17 C, nearly a degree above the historic average, according to the latest weather data.

A heat wave sent the mercury soaring to record levels in Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, the China Meteorological Administration said on Monday, without providing specific figures.

The data show temperatures in central parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, large areas south of the Yangtze River and eastern parts of South China were 2 to 4 C higher than usual.

Xinzhou’s Xinfu district in Shanxi province and Jing’an county in Jiangxi province saw record-breaking temperatures above 43 C.

The national average temperature in May reached 17 C, an increase of 0.8 C from the historic average for May, the administration said.

The Beijing Meteorological Center issued advance warnings of a heat wave from last Thursday through Saturday, signaling three days of temperatures above 35 C.

Ai Wanxiu of the National Climate Center, blamed the high temperatures on a stronger subtropical highpressure area near southern China.

“This results in less precipitation, and, thus, higher temperatures,” she said.

During the upcoming college entrance examination from Thursday through Saturday, most parts of the country will see mild weather. But Henan province and northwest Shandong province are forecast to have temperatures above 35 C on Thursday and Friday.

Fang Chong, chief forecaster at the National Climate Center, said local authorities should watch a tropical storm expected to develop into the fourth Chinese typhoon this year.

“Hainan province, Guangdong province and central and eastern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region should brace for heavy rainfall and flooding, which may cause trouble for students taking the exams,” Fang said.

Fang also said mild to heavy rains in these regions will last from Tuesday to Saturday, with rainfall reaching 300 mm, if not higher.

ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY As a heat wave settles over northern China, Li Zhenfang plays with her grandson in Beijing on Sunday. Temperatures above 35 C were felt in the city for three days.