The extreme heat and drought that has been roasting a vast swath of southern China for at least 70 straight days has no parallel in modern record-keeping in China, or elsewhere around the world for that matter.
Why it matters: Based on recent studies, the question facing climate scientists is how much climate change contributed to this disaster.
The big picture: More than 260 weather stations saw their highest-ever temperatures during the long-running heat wave, according to state media reports.
- It has coincided with a severe drought that has shriveled rivers and lakes and throttled back some of China’s hydropower production.
- This has led the government to cut power to Sichuan’s key industrial hubs, an emergency measure extended on Aug. 21.
By the numbers: More all-time heat records fell Sunday, particularly in Sichuan province.
- Gao reached 110.3°F (43.5°C) while Jianyang and Zigong hit 110.1°F (43.4°C), according to Meteo France meteorologist Etienne Kapikian.
- The all-time high temperature of 105.8°F (41°C) in Mianyang on Sunday broke the previous record by 4°F, an unusually large margin for such a milestone.
- On Saturday, Chongqing, whose city center is home to 9 million, saw an overnight low temperature that was a few degrees hotter than its typical August daytime high, at 94.8°F (34.9°F).
- If verified, it would be the hottest overnight minimum temperature anywhere in China during August, according to weather historian Maximiliano Herrera.
Man, it’s those high overnight lows that will kill you.
OK, and the daytime highs that are >15°F higher than what they’re used to.