BEIJING, China: China has swung between extreme temperatures this year, from some of its hottest on record to a deep freeze that blanketed parts of the country for almost two weeks, signaling potential for further swings and heightened weather extremes next year due to the El Nino weather pattern, as per a senior climate expert.
“2024 may be hotter and it could also be a year when extreme weather may become more frequent and powerful,” Zhou Bing, China’s National Climate Center chief expert, was quoted as saying in a report by state broadcaster CCTV.
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During the recent summer, Beijing experienced unprecedented heatwaves, while a remote township in China’s arid northwest recorded a scorching 52 degrees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) – the highest temperature ever recorded in the country.
Simultaneously, typhoons caused historic rainfall in northern China, resulting in widespread flooding. This year’s El Nino, starting in June, has triggered soaring temperatures globally, a pattern anticipated to persist until at least April to June next year. Weather experts warn that the lingering effects of El Nino might continue breaking temperature records well into 2024.
