China's heat alerts overlap with gaokao

China's meteorological authority issued the year's first high-temperature heatstroke forecast on Monday as the national college entrance examination continues, urging test-takers to guard against the heat.

The China Meteorological Administration said areas including central Beijing, parts of Hebei and Henan provinces, as well as regions in Shandong, Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, and the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang autonomous region face a risk of heatstroke. The danger is particularly high in southern Hebei and northern Henan provinces.

The National Meteorological Center also issued a yellow alert for high temperatures Monday. The alert is the third highest in China's four-tier color-coded weather warning system, following red and orange, with blue as the lowest level.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 35 C across central and southern North China, the Yellow River-Huaihe River region, the Fenwei Plain in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, the Turpan Basin and southern Xinjiang, as well as central and southern Guangdong. In some areas, temperatures could reach 37 to 39 C, with isolated spots possibly surpassing 40 C, the center said.

Meteorologists urged the public to guard against heat-related illnesses and limit sun exposure. As the college entrance examination, or gaokao, enters its third day in some regions, candidates were especially advised to keep cool and stay hydrated.

In addition, the National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for severe convective weather Monday, warning of strong thunderstorms, winds and hail in parts of North China and the Yellow River-Huaihe River region. From Monday afternoon into the night, areas in Hebei, Tianjin and Shandong could see wind gusts surpassing level 11 on the Beaufort scale.

Heavy rainfall is also expected in southern and northeastern China on Monday, with a blue alert issued earlier in the day. Parts of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan provinces, as well as northwestern Jilin and Liaoning provinces, are forecast to receive heavy to torrential downpours throughout the day.

Northeastern Guangxi may experience particularly heavy rain, with accumulations expected to reach 100 to 130 millimeters.

The National Meteorological Center also issued a yellow fog alert. Dense fog is expected to reduce visibility to less than 1 kilometer in the Bohai Strait, the northern Yellow Sea, the eastern coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, the Yangtze River estuary, the Hangzhou Bay area and around the Zhoushan Islands from daytime into nighttime Monday.

China's meteorological authority issued the year's first high-temperature heatstroke forecast on Monday amid the ongoing national college entrance examination, urging candidates to take precautions against the heat.

According to the China Meteorological Administration, on Monday, areas such as central Beijing, parts of Hebei and Henan provinces, along with regions in Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi provinces, and the Turpan Basin in Xinjiang autonomous region, are at risk of heatstroke. The likelihood is even higher in southern Hebei and northern Henan provinces.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Center has issued a yellow alert for high temperatures on Monday, the third highest in a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, after red and orange, and followed by blue.

It predicted that temperatures are expected to soar above 35 C across central and southern North China, the Yellow River-Huaihe River region, the Fenwei Plain, which is situated primarily within the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi, the Turpan Basin and southern Xinjiang autonomous region, and central and southern Guangdong.

Some areas in these regions may see temperatures climbing to 37 to 39 C, with certain spots potentially surpassing 40 C, it said.

Meteorologists advised the public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses and to minimize prolonged sun exposure. In areas where the college entrance examination, or gaokao, is in the third day, candidates are particularly reminded to keep cool and stay hydrated.

Additionally, the National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for severe convective weather on Monday, which is expected to affect parts of North China and the Yellow River-Huaihe River region.

According to the center, from Monday afternoon to night, areas in Hebei, Tianjin, and Shandong may experience strong thunderstorms, winds and hail, with wind gusts potentially exceeding level 11.

Moreover, heavy rainfall is also anticipated in southern and northeastern China on Monday, as a blue alert was issued earlier in the day. Region including parts of Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan provinces, as well as northwestern Jilin and Liaoning provinces, are forecasted to experience heavy to torrential downpours throughout Monday.

Northeastern Guangxi, in particular, may face extremely heavy rain, with accumulations reaching 100-130 mm, it said.

The National Meteorological Center also issued a yellow fog alert. Dense fog is expected to reduce visibility to less than 1 kilometer in the Bohai Strait, northern Yellow Sea, eastern coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, the Yangtze River estuary, the Hangzhou Bay area, and around the Zhoushan Islands from Monday daytime to nighttime.