Heat wave sweeps N. China   

高温炙烤华北黄淮等地 多地气温将高至39℃

中国北京、天津、河南、河北、山西、山东、安徽、湖北等地近日连遭高温炙烤。中央气象台预计，20日，中国河北、山西、河南、山东、安徽、湖北、广东、新疆等地仍有高温天气，部分地区最高气温可达39℃。

Beijing (CNS) -- Temperatures are likely to exceed 39 degrees Celsius today in Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Hubei, Guangdong and Xinjiang, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

The NMC issued the first high temperature alert of the year on Sunday, when Beijing recorded a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, the highest so far this year.

The heat is being caused by an inland warm air mass, few clouds and strong solar radiation, experts at the NMC said.

They also said the heat wave won't last longer than five days, as thunderstorms are expected to return to north China after Thursday.