Temperatures to drop in South China

BEIJING - Record high temperatures in South China will ease with the arrival of Typhoon Utor, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said Wednesday.

According to the NMC, temperatures have reached or exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for an average of 25.3 days in eight provinces and municipalities since July 1, marking the greatest number of hot days recorded during the period since 1961.

Utor, the 11th typhoon to hit China this year, has already brought heavy rain to South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hainan, the center said, adding that the rain will bring temperatures to less than 35 degrees Celsius.

However, high temperatures are expected to linger in other areas, the center said.

Heavy rain is also expected in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, as well as most parts of Northeast China, over the next three days. The NMC has urged local authorities to prepare for possible floods.