The riverbed of a river in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality revealed after persistent high temperature in the area, August 16, 2022. Photo: IC

The persistent high temperature affecting a vast territory of China since June 13 this year has been evaluated as the severest and longest in history since 1961, when complete meteorological observation records started, China's National Climate Center (NCC) announced on Wednesday. 

This evaluation was made upon a comprehensive consideration on the average intensity, range of impact and duration of the heat wave events this year. According to the center, the heat waves this year show the characteristics of long duration, wide range, high intensity and strong extremeness. 

As of August 15, the high temperature events has lasted 64 days, the longest duration since 1961, two days more than the number in 2013. 

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) continued to issue a red alert for high temperature on Wednesday morning, the sixth consecutive day for the center to issue a red alert and the 28th day in a row for the center to issue high temperature warnings, forecasting a vast range of areas across the country including southern part of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Central China's Hunan Province, eastern part of Southwest China's Guizhou Province and parts of South China's Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will reach high temperatures above 35 C to 39 C. 

In particular, the eastern part of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, middle and western parts of Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, middle and northern parts of Central China's Hunan Province, middle part of East China's Jiangxi Province and western part of East China's Zhejiang Province will reach 40 C or above. 

According to NCC, as many as 262 meteorological observatories across the nation, covering the vastest range in history, have recorded extremely high temperatures of 40 C or above. 

Across the nation, 1,680 meteorological observatories have recorded temperatures of 35 C or above and 1,426 observatories have recorded temperatures of 37 C or above, only second to the numbers in 2017 when 1,762 and 1,443 observatories recorded high temperatures of 35 C and 37 C and above. 

Between June 1 and August 15, average high temperature days across the nation reached 12 days, 5.1 days longer than the same period of the usual years. 

The NMC predicted that persistent heat waves will continue for seven to 10 days in multiple areas including Sichuan, Hubei and Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. The highest predicted temperature can reach 35 C to 38 C with some places possibly exceeding 40 C. 

A comprehensive analysis by the NMC shows the duration of this regional heat wave event will be prolonged and the comprehensive intensity will be further enhanced. 

The persistent high temperature has caused drought in multiple places across the country with rivers and lakes drying up and causing a shortage of water for agricultural irrigation and drinking, according to media reports. 

Global Times