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From northwest to east China, parched and baking areas face dry spell

Weeks of scarce rainfall in parts of China, paired with sweltering heat, has brought dry spell to a number of provinces, triggering alerts and actions from authorities to minimise impacts on agriculture, and water and energy products.

Temperature levels this week are anticipated to scale record highs in parts of China as nations across Asia brace themselves for another summer of extreme weather.

China's Water Resources Ministry this week introduced emergency actions to manage dry spell on in Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces, showing various areas in the country spanning the northwest to the east are facing parched and scorching conditions.

With decreasing rainfall considering that May in areas around the Yellow River Basin, in combination with the onset of scorching temperature levels this month, dry spell is threatening cultivated land that were being prepared to be sown as well as sown crops, Xinhua reported.

The severe climate condition will include till the end of next week, with dry spell anticipated to intensify, the main media said.

In some parts of Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces, temperature levels might reach 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit), potentially breaking historic records for the month of June, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Surface temperatures could hit 70 C in some regions including in Shanxi and Shaanxi, it added.

The emergency situation management ministry has actually alerted impacted areas consisting of northwestern Shaanxi, northern Hebei and Shanxi, eastern Anhui and Shandong along with central Henan to protect water and food production.

China's national forecaster predicted constant heat wave conditions and alerted about the requirement to get ready for emergency situation power materials as well as fire prevention in forest areas, the Individuals's Daily reported.

Electricity demand normally soars in high temperatures as individuals crank up the air-conditioning to remain cool.

Rain, not heat, is the risk in southern China. Coastal Fujian's provincial observatory raised a warning for damp weather and potential disasters after forecasting heavy rains up until Saturday.

(source: Reuters)