(ECNS) -- A social media hashtag saying “It feels like all of northeast China is waiting for Aug. 7” trended Thursday, as residents looked forward to a sharp cooldown on Friday, which marks Start of Autumn (li qiu), one of China’s 24 traditional solar terms.
The anticipation followed days of unusually intense heat and humidity across northeast China, conditions rarely seen in the region at this time of year. In Liaoning Province, four locations recorded highs of 41.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, while the province’s 15 highest readings all exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. On Thursday afternoon, parts of Liaoning were among the hottest areas in China, second only to Xinjiang.
The heat has also come with exceptionally high humidity, reaching above 70% and even 90% in some places. Residents shared photos of water droplets forming on walls, damp floors and fogged-up mirrors, with some joking that northeast China was experiencing the kind of muggy weather more commonly associated with southern China.
Sun Qianqian, a meteorological analyst with Weather China, said the phenomenon is not technically the same as the humid-weather pattern often seen in southern China. The dampness was mainly caused by excessive moisture in the air and high dew points, after warm, moisture-laden air had been transported northward since late July.
From Friday, cooler air is expected to push south. Highs in Liaoning are forecast to fall to around 30 degrees Celsius, while parts of Heilongjiang and Jilin could cool to about 25 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures will also drop sharply, with Harbin expected to see lows of around 12 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday.
The cooling is expected to spread further south from Saturday, gradually easing the heat from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to areas south of the Yangtze River.
(By Intern Yang Hongran, Zhang Dongfang)
京公网安备 11010202009201号