An intense and unusually persistent heatwave has pushed electricity demand to record levels across northern, northeastern and eastern China as millions of homes and businesses turn to air conditioning for relief.
The extreme heat is being driven by a stronger-than-normal western Pacific subtropical high that has remained unusually far north. Beneath this broad area of high pressure, sinking air suppresses cloud formation and allows strong August sunshine to heat the ground for several consecutive days.
Moist monsoonal air has made conditions even more oppressive. In Liaoning, daytime temperatures have repeatedly exceeded 35°C (95°F), while overnight lows in many areas have remained between 25 and 30°C (77 and 86°F). The combination of heat and humidity offers little nighttime relief and keeps cooling systems running for longer.
China’s National Meteorological Centre expects southern Northeast China, central and eastern North China, the Huanghuai region and parts of eastern China to experience five to seven days of high temperatures during the next 10 days.
Afternoon highs will commonly reach 35 to 37°C (95 to 99°F), with localized temperatures of 38 to 40°C (100 to 104°F). Parts of Liaoning and northern Shandong could approach or exceed historical records. Farther west, persistent heat across Xinjiang, western Inner Mongolia and western Gansu could send temperatures above 42°C (108°F) in the Turpan Basin.
The heat across southern Northeast China is particularly unusual. The subtropical high normally reaches its northernmost position from late July into early August, but this year it has remained stronger and farther north for an extended period. Its circulation has trapped heat over Liaoning and surrounding areas while limiting the arrival of cooler air and widespread rain.
Deadly Heat Spreads Across the Northern Hemisphere
China is not alone in facing dangerous August heat. South Korea set a national temperature record of 42.5°C (108.5°F) in Yangsan on August 2. The government said 19 people had died and about 2,220 had developed heat-related illnesses since mid-May, prompting President Lee Jae Myung to describe the heatwave as a national disaster. Thousands of livestock and farmed fish have also died.
Japan transported about 18,600 people to hospital for heat illness between July 20 and 26, with 45 pronounced dead on arrival. The heat has compounded conditions in earthquake-hit Kumamoto, where tens of thousands of homes remain without running water and some evacuees are sleeping in vehicles. Three lions at Tokyo’s Tama Zoological Park also died from suspected heat stress.
Europe has suffered an even larger public-health toll. A preliminary World Health Organization assessment estimated about 10,650 excess deaths during June 22 to 28 and more than 14,000 across the two-week peak. Excess mortality measures deaths above the expected baseline and does not mean every case was individually confirmed as caused by heat. Italy, meanwhile, placed all 27 of its major cities under its highest heat alert as temperatures approached 40°C (104°F).
Heat Pushes Electricity Demand Higher
The State Grid Corporation of China said electricity loads across its northern, northeastern and eastern regional networks reached record highs on August 3 and 4. Provincial grids serving Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Anhui and Liaoning also established new peaks as air-conditioning demand climbed.
Shandong’s electricity load reached approximately 131 million kilowatts, or 131 gigawatts, on August 3. Tianjin recorded a peak of 20.95 million kilowatts, or nearly 21 gigawatts, exceeding 20 million kilowatts for the first time. In Anhui, demand rose to a record 69.99 million kilowatts, or almost 70 gigawatts, on August 4, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year.
Officials said the heatwave was the immediate cause of the surge, although growing electricity use by data centres, manufacturing, electric-vehicle charging and other economic activity also contributed.
State Grid has started adjusting network operations and strengthening coordination between electricity generation, transmission, storage and demand. The company is also preparing to move more power between provinces and regions to maintain a stable supply during the peak.
The pressure is not limited to northern China. Guangdong consumed 100.798 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in July, becoming the first Chinese province to exceed 100 billion kilowatt-hours in a single month.
With further bouts of extreme heat expected throughout August, electricity demand is likely to remain elevated. Authorities are urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, remain hydrated and check on older adults and other people vulnerable to heat illness.
