Residents across southern China's Guangdong Province endured suffocating heat on July 12, with temperatures approaching 40°C in some areas. Forecasters warned that the "sauna-like" conditions would persist before gradually cooling down later this week.
The provincial capital, Guangzhou, recorded a temperature of 32°C as late as 8:30 p.m. on July 11, according to local weather authorities. During the day on July 12, temperatures rose even higher across most parts of the province. The national weather station in Guangning, Zhaoqing, recorded the province's highest reading at a blistering 39.5°C.
While eastern Guangdong experienced a slight temperature drop of 1–4°C compared with Saturday, most other areas remained steady or edged up by another 1–2°C. Combined with the heat index, conditions made outdoor activities nearly unbearable.
Relief in sight
There is, however, some silver lining. According to the Guangdong Meteorological Service, the scope of extreme high temperatures is expected to gradually shrink from July 13 onward, as a weak monsoon trough moves in.
Beginning July 13, thundershowers are forecast to increase across most parts of the province. At the same time, the area experiencing temperatures above 35°C is expected to shrink significantly. By July 14–15, more persistent rainfall is expected in the central and southern districts, which should bring broad relief from the current heatwave.
Detailed forecast
- July 13: Central and southern Guangdong will experience cloudy-to-overcast skies with scattered thundershowers and locally heavy rain or downpours. The rest of the province will be mostly cloudy with isolated showers. Areas affected by thunderstorms may experience brief wind gusts of up to Force 8 on the Beaufort scale. The 35°C+ zone will continue to shrink.
- July 14–15: Central and southern areas will become cloudy to overcast with moderate to heavy rainfall and locally torrential downpours. Other parts will remain cloudy with thundershowers. The ongoing heatwave is expected to subside.
Three-day outlook for Guangzhou
- July 13: Cloudy with thundershowers, ranging from 26°C to 36°C.
- July 14: Overcast with moderate thundershowers and possible localized downpours, 26°C to 32°C.
- July 15: Cloudy to overcast with moderate thundershowers and localized heavy rain, 26°C to 31°C.
Authorities advise residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged outdoor exposure, and stay alert for sudden squalls and lightning during afternoon storms.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus
