Parts of southeast China are enduring an unprecedented October heatwave, with temperatures soaring far beyond seasonal norms. In Jiangxi Province, the city of Xiushui recorded a blistering 38.9°C, around 13°C higher than average for this time of year — a rare event for the autumn season.
Meteorologists describe the situation as part of an abrupt weather split across China, with the south trapped under high-pressure systems bringing dry, hot air, while the north grapples with heavy rains and sharp temperature drops.
Extreme Contrast Across the Country
Southern provinces including Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong have been sweltering under near-summer heat, forcing many residents to return to light clothing and air conditioning. Meanwhile, northern China — including Beijing, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia — is facing plunging temperatures, with some areas seeing rainfall totals double their monthly averages within just the first week of October.
The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) has issued heat alerts in the south, warning of potential health risks from prolonged exposure and dehydration. In contrast, flood warnings remain active in parts of the north following days of relentless rain.
Climate Experts Weigh In
Experts say the stark temperature disparity underscores the increasing instability of regional weather systems, driven by climate change and warming ocean temperatures in the western Pacific.
“This kind of split climate pattern — extreme heat in one region and early cold snaps in another — is becoming more common,” one climatologist noted. “It shows how sensitive East Asia’s weather systems are to shifts in atmospheric circulation.”
Daily Life Disrupted
In Jiangxi and Fujian, residents have been spotted returning to summer activities, with some cities even reopening swimming pools due to persistent heat. Farmers are voicing concern that the unseasonable warmth could disrupt rice harvesting and impact tea yields, creating potential supply issues later in the year.
Conversely, northern regions such as Beijing and Shenyang have seen rapid temperature drops of more than 15°C in two days. The sudden chill has led to delays in outdoor construction, transportation disruptions, and a surge in heating demand.
Growing Unpredictability of China’s Climate
As the country moves deeper into autumn, weather authorities caution that further extremes may persist, emphasizing how climate volatility is increasingly defining seasonal transitions across China.
The current divide between heat and cold, experts say, reflects a broader pattern of atmospheric instability — a reminder that even familiar seasons are now shaped by unprecedented global climatic shifts.
