Beijing issues highest heat alert as heatwave hits north China

Beijing early on Friday morning issued a red alert for high temperatures, the most severe tier, warning that the scorching weather may continue until Sunday, with temperatures in most areas of the city peaking 37 to 40 degrees Celsius. The red alert was upgraded from an orange alert issued by the capital city at 09:00 Thursday.

It has been nine years since Beijing issued a red alert for extreme heat in 2014. This is also the first time in Beijing's observation history that the temperature has reached 40 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days. The highest temperature ever recorded by the Nanjiao Meteorological Observatory was 41.9 degrees Celsius on July 24, 1999.