News Flash: It's Hot as Balls... but Thunderstorms Are Forecast
If you've had the pleasure of stepping outside today you'll already know that it's hotter than a forgotten kao baozi in the bottom of a brick oven, except we're the stranded baozi and the oven is Beijing. But while the mercury is due to hit a whopping 39 degrees Celsius, it'll just as soon fall back down thanks to thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday, bringing with them much more tolerable highs of 34 and 30 degrees Celsius respectively.
It's still uncertain as to whether we'll break last year's feat of hitting the highest recorded temperature in 50 years (also 39 degrees), but the government is famously wary about admitting when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celcius. We can only assume that this is because, according to law, there are several conditions that the government must abide by should temperatures exceed even 37 degrees Celsius (restrictions on outdoor work hours, reimbursements to employees. Read more here, in Chinese), putting a huge burden on services.
Our very unofficial reading above, taken outside of Chaoyang Hospital, put the temperature at over 41 degrees in mid-afternoon on Thursday.
Although this weekend's thunderstorms should provide respite to the heat, we dutifully remind you that depending on the severity, that they too can also pose a number of hazards. Anyone who was here in 2011 will remember the worst storms in recent memory, in which 77 people died in flash floods across the city. In the event of heavy rain, please refer to this blog for tips on staying safe.
Meanwhile, the heat seems to be wreaking serious havoc elsewhere across China. For instance, Liaoning's city of Kaiyuan witnessed a tornado last night that killed six and injured 190 people, while in Jinan, Shandong province they've taken measures to ban the notorious "Beijing bikini." It's safe to say that we're living in interesting times.
Finally, to help you avoid looking like you've swum to every destination in the coming months, we've assembled some of our best heat-beating blogs below.
Take a Dip in Qingnianhu
For the most recent article in our ongoing Park Life blog series, detailing the various parks around Beijing, we head to favorite Andingmen hangout and veritable oasis in the city, Qingnianhu Park. Read on to see what makes it and its pool so great. There are also all these other great indoor and outdoor pools to explore.
Make Some Deliciously Refreshing Detox Waters
Given that it's too damn hot to do much, you might as well feel healthy while you're sitting on your sweaty arse. These fruit-infused detox waters are just the ticket to sweet, sweet relief.
3 DIY Popsicles to Cool Your Inner Heat
Alternatively, get on these fruity popsicles which can also be shoved down your top for instant relief.
Explore the Ancient Villages in the Suburbs of Beijing
Finally, give up and simply GTFO of Beijing with a weekend in one of these neighboring ancient villages. If nothing else, there'll be fewer people to judge you when you start sticking popsicles down your pants.
Burgers won't cool you down but they will keep your mind off melting for at least 10 minutes.
Images: Michael Wester/the Beijinger
