Heat wave swept southern China for more than 20 days.

Since this July, 19 provinces (cities) in southern China have seen rarely persistent heat wave. The maximum temperature has exceeded 35℃ in South of the Yangtze River, the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin, the Yangtze-Hanshui River Basin, Chongqing, Hunan and Xinjiang for more than 20 days. The daily maximum temperatures of South of the Yangtze River, the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin and Chongqing have even reached 40-42℃. 43 cities and counties in southern China have witnessed daily maximum temperature over 40℃.

Temperatures in many places have broken historical record. On July 27, the temperature in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, rose to 40.5℃, which was the fourth consecutive day over 40℃, breaking the maximum record since 1951. On July 26, Xujiahui meteorological observation station in Shanghai observed 40.6℃, which is the highest since 1872. Influenced by persistent heat wave, meteorological drought is growing in parts of Guizhou, Chongqing, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang.

Meteorological drought in Xiangxi, Hunan is growing.

He Lifu, chief forecaster of National Meteorological Center, CMA, tells media that the extensive and continuous heat wave lingers over southern China because the subtropical high has stayed in southern China for a longer time with stronger intensity. In addition, strong tropical cyclones  mainly influence Taiwan Strait and South China Sea in this season and hardly move northward to destroy subtropical high, leading to heat wave scorching southern China.

CMA chief forecaster He Lifu explains about the reason of heat wave.