China warned to prepare for hotter than average summer
- The country needs to be ready to combat drought and secure electricity supplies when the heatwave arrives, forecasters say
China is facing higher than average temperatures this summer as forecasters warn that preparations are needed to combat the threat of droughts and power shortages.
Some regions may see extreme high temperatures, but the overall situation is expected to be less severe than in 2022 when the country suffered its worst heatwave on record with abnormally high temperatures lasting over 70 days.
“Temperatures in most parts of the country are expected to be higher than the average for the same period in previous years, with an increased number of hot days,” Zheng Zhihai, chief forecaster of the National Climate Centre, told China News Service, a state-run news agency, earlier this week.
The persistent searing weather and droughts in the Yangtze River basin during the summer two years ago was abnormal due to multiple factors, Zheng was quoted as saying.
He added that there was only a small possibility of similar extreme temperatures over a long period this year.
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However, he said there was still a need for preparatory work and proper irrigation to prevent droughts and to make sure electricity would continue to be supplied during the peak summer season when demand for air conditioning is at its height.
