Chebi to cool off fiery China coast

But the mercury will continue upward for southern inland cities

Tropical Storm Chebi will ease heat stress in coastal cities of South China, bringing wind and rain, but temperatures in southern inland cities will continue to shoot upward before mid-August, meteorologists said on Thursday.

Ma Xuekuan, chief weather forecaster of the National Meteorological Center, said temperatures in most parts of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces, as well as Shanghai, will hit 40 C in the coming week.

Heat warnings were issued for Chongqing and Shanghai, along with cities in Guizhou, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan and Anhui provinces on Thursday.

In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, the temperature of the pavement on a bridge was abnormally high - it hit 64 C in the past week - throughout July, causing 236 tires to burst, about 30 percent more than usual, according to the local transportation bureau.

Searing July heat claimed more than 10 lives in Shanghai due to heat stroke, and it's expected to get hotter in the coming 10 days, according to the Shanghai meteorological bureau.

The bureau also warned people to pay attention to the summer heat and protect themselves. It advised children, pregnant women and elderly people, especially those with chronic diseases, to reduce outdoor activities.

"The bad news is we have to wait another 10 days. The sweltering summer days are really intolerable," said Chloe Hu, a 30-year-old office worker in Shanghai.

"I often take my baby outside after dinner. But now we have to stay at home. It's too hot outside," she said.

"I also told my parents not to go outside during the day because it would increase health risks."

Typhoon alert

While the inland southern cities are suffering from scorching heat, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Guangdong and Hainan provinces, will embrace gales and rain over the weekend as the tropical storm is expected to land on Friday or Saturday.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center of the State Oceanic Administration issued an alert on Thursday that waves up to seven meters will appear in the South China Sea on Friday.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters sent three expert teams to Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan for anti-typhoon work.

Hainan is prepared for potential damage and had asked all fishermen to sail back to port, said Chen Wu, deputy director of the provincial anti-typhoon bureau.

The Sanya maritime safety administration in Hainan issued an emergency alert, asking tour agencies to suspend all water entertainment, such as cruises.

The Hainan provincial meteorological bureau said rain accompanied by gales will hit central and eastern parts of the province on Friday.

Liu Xiaoli in Haikou, Hainan province, contributed to this story.