China, Japan experience hottest July on record

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China and Japan experienced the hottest July since records began, weather authorities said on Friday.

In July, “the average air temperature reached 23.21C (73.78F), exceeding July 2017 (23.17C), becoming the hottest July since complete observations began in 1961,” Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Authorities expect hotter days in some regions and said the “subtropical high pressure will take control” during August.

Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency said the country sweltered through the hottest July since records began in 1898.

This marked the second consecutive year that Japan has broken its average July temperature record.

The country is seeing heat waves with average temperature in July recorded as 2.16 degrees Celsius (35.8 fahrenheit) higher than the overall monthly average recorded between 1991 and 2020.

It recorded mercury rising above 40C in seven locations.