Scorching week forecast for various parts of country

China is experiencing a relentless heat wave even as the summer season will start to reach its peak on Sunday, pushing the mercury to new heights, said a warning issued by China Central Television's National Emergency Broadcasting WeChat account on Monday.

This week, scorching weather is expected to hit various parts of China. In Henan, Hebei and Shandong provinces, temperatures will surge to as high as 39 C to 43 C, creating sweltering conditions that are challenging historical records for this time of the year.

Cities including Zhengzhou, Henan province and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, are facing six days of scorching heat, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 C. Zhengzhou may even witness 42 C on Tuesday, challenging its historical temperature record of 43 C set way back in July 1966.

The oppressive heat is not just limited to daytime hours, as night temperatures in many areas, including the Yellow and Huaihe rivers basins, are hovering around 30 C, an unusual occurrence for this time of the year.