Cool-down shelters help hot and bothered survive summer swelter

Nationwide impact

A total of 152 national-level weather stations in China have recorded temperatures exceeding 40 C in July, the National Climate Center of China Meteorological Administration said on July 23.

The heat wave is expected to persist, with some regions likely to break historical records for the duration and extreme levels of heat, it added.

The 40 C-plus temperatures have mainly been recorded in the southeastern part of Shaanxi province, the central and western parts of Hubei province, the northeastern and western parts of Chongqing, the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and the western part of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

A total of 32 stations, including Dongkan in Xinjiang (48.7 C), Xingping in Shaanxi (43.1 C), and Badong in Hubei (42.9 C) have broken historical records, the center said.

The whole country is experiencing a typical pattern during the flood season with heavy rainfall coexisting with widespread high temperatures, Zhang Tao, the chief forecaster of the National Meteorological Center, said on Sunday. Recent heavy rainfall has been concentrated in the northern regions, while rainfall in many areas in southern China is scattered. However, he added high temperatures will continue across the country this summer.

Lu Er, professor of atmospheric science at Qinghai Institute of Technology in Xining, Qinghai province, said it is a crucial time for weather forecasting, disaster prevention and mitigation as extreme weather such as high temperatures and heavy rainfall coexist across the country.

He said the intense precipitation in many regions of China is closely linked to the high temperatures, and in the future the high temperature may intensify, and there may be more heavy downpours.

Henan province is typical of the challenges the heat wave has created. On July 15, the capital Zhengzhou hit a record daytime high of 44 C, and 33 C at night.

As of July 20, most parts of Henan had experienced sweltering weather, with temperatures consistently above 37 C, according to Henan Provincial Meteorological Observatory.

Li Han, a senior member of the observatory, said the primary cause of the heat wave in Henan was an ongoing Western Pacific subtropical high-pressure system over the province.

Under its heat emergency response guideline, governments and authorities are required to implement heat emergency protocols, and ensure production safety, fire prevention, public health, and uninterrupted urban water and electricity supplies.

"All outdoor work must cease, excluding essential industries. Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure and implement effective sun protection measures. Special care must be provided for the elderly, vulnerable groups, patients, and children," according to the guideline.

"Drivers must ensure no flammable materials are left in vehicles, and conduct pre-drive inspections to prevent spontaneous combustion or tire blowouts. Relevant departments and units should exercise heightened vigilance against fire hazards," it said.

Li Liuzhen, a taxi driver in his 50s, said he felt like he was living in a giant steamer. "It's so hot that I don't even want to move," said Li, who works in Zhengzhou.

"Honestly, I don't even want to go out, but I can't stop driving. The air conditioner has to be on the whole time, otherwise passengers can't stand it, and I'd be drenched in sweat," he said.

"That said, there are slightly more people taking cabs in this heat, so at least the suffering isn't for nothing."

Zhengzhou courier Yuan Qi said the heat is making his work very difficult. "It's really hot these days. In our line of work, delivering and picking up packages, and sometimes handling returns, the physical strain is even worse in this heat. The only thing we can do is drink more water and tough it out. Honestly, this kind of weather is a serious challenge for us," he said.