Chinese cities are sweltering in record-breaking heat, putting rice-growing regions at risk.

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Chinese cities are sweltering in record-breaking heat, putting rice-growing regions at risk.



Beijing: On Tuesday (Aug 6), extreme heat gripped megacities along China's eastern seaboard, sharply increasing power demand as homes and offices sought relief from the scorching temperatures. Meanwhile, the intense heat in China's interior has raised concerns about potential damage to rice crops.

In Hangzhou, a megacity with 12.5 million residents and home to major companies like Alibaba and NetEase, authorities banned non-essential outdoor lighting and light shows to conserve energy. Temperatures in the city have soared above 40 degrees Celsius since Friday, as eastern and southern China continue to endure relentless heat.

Shanghai, with nearly 25 million people, saw its power grid's maximum load surpass 40 million kilowatts for the first time on Aug 2, as heat waves drove up electricity consumption. Hangzhou's power grids also recorded new highs, prompting officials to implement measures to maintain essential lighting in public spaces and ensure nighttime travel safety.

Chinese meteorologists attribute the record heat in 2024 to global warming, despite the typically cooling effects of the La Niña weather phenomenon. This year, China experienced its warmest spring since 1961, followed by the hottest May on record, and weeks of drought-like conditions in central farmland areas.

Daily maximum temperatures of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius, and even above 40 degrees Celsius, are expected to persist in parts of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Zhejiang through Sunday. This extreme heat coincides with the early-season rice harvest in these provinces, prompting calls for increased irrigation to keep the fields cool.

Fatalities have been reported in neighboring South Korea and Japan due to the intense summer heat affecting northeast Asia. China has yet to confirm any deaths related to the extreme temperatures.

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