OLYMPICS/ VISIT BEIJING
First day of lunar autumn brings heatwave to Beijing
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-08-10 09:49
Beijing citizens suffered from sweltering heat on Thursday, the first day of autumn in the Chinese lunar calendar.
The temperature hit 39 degrees Celsius in southern areas at noon while the Tian'anmen Square and western regions registered a peak of 38 degrees, according to the municipal meteorological station.
The average peak temperature could hit 37 degrees Celsius, six degrees higher than forecast, possibly making Thursday the hottest day this summer.
The station issued an orange temperature warning at 11:30 a.m., the third this summer. The last alert was issued in late June when the maximum temperature was 37.6 degrees Celsius.
Meteorologists advised people to stay indoors and avoid exposure to strong sunlight.
The heatwave may not last long as thunderstorms are expected in the next two days.
The Central Meteorological Station and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention had warned people in the south, east and northwest of possible heatstroke on Thursday.
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