In March, This Country Already Hits '30 Degrees'... Locust Swarms Appear Amid the Heat

As an early heatwave rages in China, the daytime high temperature in Beijing reached 30 degrees Celsius for the earliest time in 66 years.

On the 24th, the Chinese state-run English media Global Times reported that the daytime high temperatures in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan area reached between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius over the past weekend. In particular, in Haidian District, Beijing, the temperature soared to 30 degrees Celsius at around 3:16 p.m. on the 22nd. This is the first time since 1959 that the daytime high temperature in Beijing has risen to 30 degrees Celsius in March.

Reference photo.

At the Nanjiao Observatory in Daxing District, Beijing, the temperature rose to 28.9 degrees Celsius during the day on the 22nd, breaking the record for the highest temperature at the end of March. The previous record was 28.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on March 31, 2002.

Ma Jun, director of the Chinese Institute of Public Environment (IPE), said, "Due to the unusually warm weather continuing in northern China, insects and reptiles commonly seen in summer, such as locusts and mountain lizards, are appearing in large numbers in the southwestern mountainous areas of Beijing."

Besides the metropolitan area, most regions in China are experiencing prolonged early heat due to the influence of a warm high-pressure system, with many areas confirming temperatures higher than usual for this time of year.

The China Meteorological Administration forecasted that record high temperatures will continue in northern regions until the 25th, and the heat will intensify in southern regions on the 25th and 26th. However, temperatures are expected to drop afterward. In Beijing, the meteorological agency predicted "rollercoaster" weather, with strong winds and daytime highs dropping to 12 degrees Celsius.