China embraces its hottest period as Europe continues to battle against heat

China is experiencing its strongest regional heat wave since 1961, and the hot weather is likely to persist in southern China for another ten days, according to the National Meteorological Center.

As of August 15, the scorching weather has lasted for 64 days, the longest since 1961, exceeding the previous longest of 62 days in 2013. The number of hot days in north China, east China, and southwest China is generally more than 20 days, and that number has even exceeded 30 days in Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Chongqing.

The highest temperatures at 914 weather stations across the country has reached the standard of "extreme". The data also shows the area affected by 40℃ temperatures this year has reached 1.36 million square kilometers, far more than the 993,000 square kilometers in 2017. Temperatures surged to a record high in many cities such as Zhushan City in central China's Hubei with 44.6℃, and 45℃ in Chongqing Municipality.

Atmospheric circulation patterns, La Niña and global warming have contributed to the extreme hot weather this year, according to Gao Ge from the National Meteorological Center.

The sizzling temperatures have also resulted in drought in places like central China's Henan Province and places along the Yangtze River. About 20 percent of Hubei is now experiencing drought, according to media reports. The high temperatures are also pushing usage of electricity to a limit. According to news reports, some shopping malls and subways stations in Chengdu City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, are under a power restriction order, limiting the use of lights and other electronic devices.

Globally, the extreme heat has also caused increasingly severe droughts in European countries. The EU says Europe could be suffering from the worst drought over the past 500 years. The water level in Germany's Rhine River sank to the level of 34 cm, only 20 cm away to the historical lowest level. Italy's longest river, the Po, which is more than 650 kilometers long, also fell to its lowest level in 70 years. Heatwaves in Europe have killed more than 1,700 people in Portugal and Spain alone, the World Health Organization said.