High temperatures continue to scorch China, spiking power demand
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A boatman with a portable fan at West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where temperatures have spiked to as high as 43.9 deg C.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BEIJING – Eastern China continues to bake as temperatures remain elevated, with excessive heat expected to linger in mega coastal cities in the highly industrialised provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang for up to 10 more days.
In the east and north-west of China, temperatures as high as 43.9 deg C have scorched Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui and Xinjiang in recent days, state broadcaster CCTV said.
The observatory at Zhejiang’s capital Hangzhou recorded a 41.9 deg C historical high on Aug 3. The city of 12.5 million people is expected to swelter under temperatures exceeding 40 deg C till the end of Aug 11.
In nearby Shanghai, the maximum load, or demand, on its power grid exceeded 40 million kilowatts for the first time on Aug 2 as temperatures of 40 deg C boosted electricity consumption in the city of nearly 25 million people, according to industry news outlet BJX.com.
Chinese meteorologists say the record heat has been aggravated by high continental temperatures owing to global warming, even as the La Nina weather phenomenon brings cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
Earlier in 2024, China was hit by its warmest spring since 1961
With such extreme heat, people have commanded higher electricity usage as many resorted to air-conditioning to keep themselves cool. The spike in electricity demand could threaten a supply crunch.
Zhejiang’s state grid since July began recommending that electric vehicle owners charge their vehicles late at night to stagger electricity use from daily peak hours as summer temperatures rose.
It also advised people to turn off air-conditioning when temperatures are milder.
The national weather forecaster on Aug 5 cautioned of potential fire hazards caused by excessive power consumption and excessive electrical loads.
Many areas around the Yangtze River delta can expect sizzling weather of above 37 deg C in the coming days after daily maximum temperatures at seven national weather stations breached local historical extremes.
Jiangsu’s observatory issued a red warning for heat on Aug 4 after high temperatures that had persisted for more than a week further intensified. The mercury could reach 40 deg C in the cities of Wuxi, Changzhou and Zhenjiang, CCTV said. REUTERS
