Blazing Heatwave Grips Eastern China

Eastern China, including provinces like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the financial hub Shanghai, are experiencing a severe heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 43.9°C. This extreme heat has led to increased electricity demand, raising concerns about supply shortages and potential fire hazards due to excessive power consumption.

Various regions in China continue to bake as temperatures remain elevated, especially in the country's east, where excessive heat is expected to linger in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang as well as in financial hub Shanghai. In the east and northwest of China, temperatures as high as 43.9 degree Celsius (111.02 Fahrenheit) have scorched Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, and Xinjiang in recent days, state broadcaster CCTV said.

China Meteorological Administration reported that some localities in Xinjiang's Turpan Basin, southern Anhui, and central and western Zhejiang could see temperatures soar above 40C. The observatory of Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou recorded a historic high of 41.9C on Saturday, with forecasts of 40-42C temperatures continuing through Monday.

Many areas around the Yangtze River delta are bracing for sizzling weather above 37C in the coming days, after daily maximum temperatures at seven national weather stations breached local historical records. Jiangsu's observatory issued a red warning for heat on Sunday following more than a week of intensified high temperatures. The mercury could reach 40C in Wuxi, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang, CCTV said.

The extreme heat has led to increased electricity usage as many resort to air-conditioning to stay cool. This spike in demand threatens a supply crunch. Since last month, Zhejiang's State Grid has recommended electric vehicle owners charge their cars late at night to stagger electricity use from daily peak hours, as summer temperatures rose.

The State Grid also advised people to turn off air-conditioning when temperatures were milder. The national weather forecaster on Monday warned of potential fire hazards due to excessive power consumption and electrical loads.

(With inputs from agencies.)