China issues first national heat-health risk warning

China issued the first national heat-health risk warning on Wednesday evening as the country braces for another wave of extreme temperatures.

The joint alert announced by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration and the China Meteorological Administration aims to strengthen public health preparedness amid growing climate challenges.

The warning system marks a new step in China's efforts to integrate meteorological forecasting with health risk management, offering the public early guidance to reduce the medical impacts of extreme heat.

Updates will be broadcast through major channels such as the weather forecast program on China Central Television, CMA said.

The latest alert from 8 pm Wednesday to 8 pm Thursday warns of elevated health risks in several regions, including a yellow alert (moderately high risk) for part of North China, Huanghuai region, northern Jiangnan region, and Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Parts of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Anhui and Heilongjiang provinces are facing an orange alert, which means they are at high risk. Meanwhile, extremely high risks, with a red alert, are forecast in northeastern Jiangsu, eastern and central Shandong, eastern Henan, northern Anhui, and northeastern Heilongjiang.

Authorities have urged the public to monitor local forecasts, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours, stay hydrated and minimize exposure to high temperatures.

The new system classifies heat-health risks into five levels: low, moderate, moderately high, high, and extremely high. Unlike previous alerts based on general national temperature thresholds, the new grading system is tailored to regional vulnerabilities.

It is built on an analysis of the correlation between heat exposure and excess mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Heat-health warnings will be generated using a meteorological service system and disseminated through multiple channels, including SMSes from the national emergency alert platform, mobile apps, and social media platforms like Sina Weibo and Douyin, according to CMA.