Visitors enjoy the blooming peach blossoms along the West Causeway of the Summer Palace on March 21, 2025. Photo: VCG

A sharp temperature drop of up to 18 C is forecast in parts of China this week, while some southern regions may see highs above 30 C, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said Monday.

In recent days, temperatures across central and eastern China have steadily climbed. During the weekend, many regions recorded daily maximum temperatures around 25 C, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, South China and other regions, reaching highs of 28 to 30 C, National Meteorological Centre said on Monday.

According to the NMC, temperatures in northern China are expected to gradually decline through Wednesday, while southern areas will continue to warm, with some regions potentially hitting temperatures above 30 C.

In Haidian district of Beijing, the temperature on Saturday set a record for the highest temperature in March locally. It reached 30 C, the first time since 1959 that the district has hit this mark in March, local authorities said Monday. This also became the earliest recorded date for a temperature of 30 C, surpassing the previous record of April 8, 2004 in the region, according to Beijing local authorities on Monday. 

However, this warming trend is expected to reverse starting March 25, as a strong cold wave moves west to east across most of China. The northern region will experience widespread strong winds and dust storms, according to National Meteorological Centre.

Residents are advised to stay updated on forecasts and take precautions as conditions shift rapidly across different regions.

Global Times