Reuters: Hangzhou, Shanghai broil as extreme heat engulfs eastern China
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hangzhou-shanghai-broil-extreme-heat-engulfs-eastern-china-2024-08-02/Hangzhou, Shanghai broil as extreme heat engulfs eastern China
By Nicoco Chan, Xihao Jiang and Bernard Orr
August 2, 2024 6:40 AM EDT
HANGZHOU, China, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Mega-cities on China's eastern coast are facing another spell of scorching heat as temperatures hovered around 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Friday and prolonged extreme temperatures were expected to run into next week.
The Shanghai Meteorological Center on Thursday issued the first red warning signal for high temperatures this year after the sprawling metropolis hit 40C, logging the 22nd day of temperatures over 40C since its Xujiahui weather station began tracking data in 1873.
In nearby Hangzhou, officials issued a red warning early on Friday, with some areas in Shangcheng district, Binjiang district, Gongshu district, and Xihu district hitting 40C. A red warning is the most severe in a three-tiered warning temperature system.
"It's so hot, like fire falling from the sky," said Wang, a 60-year-old tourist who travelled to Hangzhou from the cooler northern province of Hebei. "I'm sweating all over. There is wind but it is hot."