Forecasters warn of heatstroke, flooding

Chen Cheng runs his car's air conditioning for 10 minutes before daring to step inside, as the scorching sun generally heats his car seat and steering wheel to a "burning level".

The Changsha, Hunan province, resident said the persistent high temperatures gripping the city have made functioning without AC impossible. Even when it rains, there is little relief as humidity worsens the heat.

"Changsha is no stranger to extreme summer heat, but it seems increasingly unbearable and prolonged year after year," he said.

Residents across central China are bracing for more bad news. The National Meteorological Center forecasts an intense heat wave will hit several regions — including Chongqing and the provinces of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hubei — over the next 10 days, with temperatures exceeding 40 C in some areas. Driven by a stable subtropical high-pressure system, the heat is expected to peak from Sunday to Tuesday before easing around Aug 11.

A joint warning from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Meteorological Administration highlighted high-temperature risks to rice crops in Sichuan and parts of Henan, Hubei and Anhui. The notice urged protective measures such as deep-water irrigation and foliar spraying.

Liang Li, a senior engineer at the Public Meteorological Service Center, warned that road surface temperatures in Hunan province, Hubei and Chongqing could reach between 62 and 74 C, posing safety hazards that require tire checks and cautious driving.

She also stressed extreme health risks, especially in eastern Sichuan and western Chongqing, and called on members of the public to take precautions against heatstroke.

Luo Hui, a villager in Huaihua, Hunan, escapes the heat by swimming daily in a local river with friends. While rural residents typically turn on air conditioning around noon, this summer's heat has forced him to start cooling his home in the morning.

"Without AC, the heat is unbearable even while resting at home," he said.

His father, who works at a local cement factory, has stopped working for the past few days due to the extreme conditions.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Center has warned of simultaneous heavy rainfall threatening both northern and southern regions.

From Saturday to Wednesday, more heavy rainfall — ranging from 30 to 150 millimeters — is forecast for regions including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanxi, parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Qinghai province and Gansu province. This follows the significant rainfall that has been drenching China since July 23, which has left soil saturated.

Dong Quan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, cautioned that additional downpours could recur, especially in areas where no clear triggering systems are present, making forecasting difficult.

He urged heightened vigilance for flash floods, landslides and surging small rivers, particularly in geologically fragile regions like Qinghai and Gansu and in parts of North China where new rainfall overlaps previous zones.

Authorities and residents are advised to monitor weather alerts and avoid mountainous areas and riverbanks.

Simultaneously, South China — especially Guangdong province, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and southern Guizhou province — faces heavy to torrential rain through Wednesday due to monsoon activity, with localized exceptionally heavy rainfall possible. Officials warned of mountain torrents, landslides and urban waterlogging.

With torrential rain and thunderstorms forecast in parts of Guangdong from Sunday to Monday, China Railway Guangzhou Group said it would implement flood emergency measures starting Sunday on certain railway sections.

Li Chengkai, a Beijing resident, said recent fatalities from heavy rain in the city have made him more alert to forecasts and flood warnings.

He now uses rubber shoe covers for commuting and watches for falling branches or debris during extreme weather. He said he avoids going out during downpours unless absolutely necessary.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn