INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Central China's Henan, one of the country's most populous provinces, is enduring its hottest July since 1961 as a prolonged heat wave grips
much of the region, local meteorological authorities said Friday.Since the start of July, Henan has recorded an average of 10.8
high-temperature days, defined as days with temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius or above, 7.8 days more than the seasonal average
Seven weather stations reported their longest-ever streaks of such days in July.The province's average temperature so far this month has
been 3.8 degrees Celsius above the historical norm, with daily highs climbing to 40 degrees Celsius or more in 131 counties and districts
between July 13 and 16.Meteorologists attributed the extreme heat to a subtropical high-pressure system, which traps heat and causes hot,
dry weather.The heat wave is expected to ease starting July 21, with widespread rainfall forecast across the province.To tackle the
scorching weather, State Grid Henan Electric Power Company has enhanced load forecasting and promoted coordinated efforts across all parties
"We have strengthened our on‑duty staffing, deploying 2,742 maintenance vehicles, 197 medium‑ and low‑voltage emergency
power trucks, and 754 backup generators to ensure power supply," said a company official.China's national observatory renewed a yellow alert
on Friday, warning of high temperatures in some regions of the country
Parts of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sichuan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest are expected to
see temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning,
followed by orange, yellow and blue.(Cover: A construction site in Luoyang City, Henan Province, central China, July 17, 2025
