BEIJING — Parts of northern and central China are experiencing unprecedented high temperatures this week, coinciding with a severe drought in the eastern region, posing a threat to crops as countries across Asia prepare for another summer of extreme weather. China is grappling with a prolonged period of intense heat, with temperatures projected to soar to 42 degrees Celsius in the northern Hebei province on Wednesday, as reported by the state weather forecast agency.

The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) issued a late warning on Tuesday (June 11) about the potential consequences of the rising temperatures on energy resources, agricultural output, and public health. China has witnessed abnormally warm conditions throughout the year, with average temperatures between March and May reaching their highest levels since record-keeping began in 1961, according to official statistics.

Earlier this week, more than 20 weather stations in northern Hebei and eastern Shandong provinces registered record-breaking seasonal temperatures during the first ten days of June, the NMC reported. Meanwhile, northern India is currently experiencing an extended heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 50°C in late May. The country's national disease control center revealed on June 1 that nearly 25,000 cases of heat stroke and 56 fatalities had been recorded since March.

Asia encountered devastating heatwaves in April, resulting in numerous casualties, agricultural losses, and school closures. Scientists attribute the severity and frequency of these heatwaves to human-induced climate change. According to the NMC, elevated temperatures will persist across northern China until June 20, potentially reaching or exceeding historical records in Hebei, Shanxi, and central Henan province. In Shandong's Mengyin County, local authorities have resorted to unconventional measures such as artificial rain creation to combat an exceptionally severe drought this year, as reported by local media outlets.