May Day to bring heat to north, rain to south

A heat wave will hit northern China while heavy rain will batter southern China during the Labor Day holiday from Friday to Tuesday, the China Meteorological Administration said.

From Friday to Saturday, temperatures in western parts along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shaanxi province will reach 34 C. In the provinces of Hebei, Henan and Shandong, it will soar to 37 C.

From Sunday through Tuesday, the heat will subside with a drop in temperature between 4 C and 10 C in these areas, the administration said.

Wang Zhihua, a senior official with the administration, suggested authorities in northern provinces pay attention to forest fire prevention.

According to Wang, at the beginning of the holiday, Beijing and the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning and Shandong will have forest fire risks of Grade IV, the second highest level, a result of a combination of meteorological factors such as temperature, wind force, humidity and precipitation.

In eastern parts of Inner Mongolia, grassland fire risks will be Grade III.

However, on Monday and Tuesday, precipitation will help reduce risks of forest fire in areas like Beijing, Hebei and Liaoning, though the risk will still remain high in Inner Mongolia.

"Strict control over the usage of fires in fields and enhanced monitoring at spots with higher risks are required to prevent possible disasters," he said.

Throughout the holiday, southern China, including the provinces of Guizhou, Zhejiang and Fujian, will have rainfall and strong winds.

"Starting in May, the frequency of strong convective weather in South China will increase. It is necessary to guard against short-term heavy rain, thunderstorms, and local torrential rains, as well as geological disasters caused by them such as debris flows, landslides and flooding disasters in farmlands and cities," Wang said.

Further, he warned that tourists should be wary of heavy fog and low visibility on the Yellow Sea and along its coast. Greater attention should also be given to slippery roads of some highways in the provinces of Fujian, Hunan and Jiangxi, which may cause heavy traffic congestion.