China’s Turpan Hits 50.7°C as Extreme Heatwave Hits Xinjiang

An extreme and historically rare heatwave is sweeping across China’s Xinjiang and Gansu regions, with Turpan’s Mangxiaohu weather station recording 50.7°C (123.3°F) on July 2 — the first time a Chinese station has exceeded 50°C in 2026. Simultaneously, southern China is enduring prolonged sweltering heat and humidity, while Typhoon Maysak brings torrential rainfall to the country’s southern coast. Authorities across multiple provinces have issued heat alerts and urged precautions against heat-related illnesses.

Record-Breaking Temperatures

According to the Xinjiang Meteorological Observatory, the Mangxiaohu station in Turpan reached 50.7°C on July 2, with the Baoxin Steel station recording 50.4°C. Among national-level weather stations, Aydingkol Lake reached 48.5°C, Toksun 47.7°C, and Turpan 48.2°C — all setting new highs for the year.

The extreme heat extends well beyond Turpan. Northern China is experiencing its largest-scale heatwave of 2026, with Xinjiang, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia seeing temperatures exceeding 38°C (100.4°F), and many areas surpassing 40°C (104°F). At the Flaming Mountain scenic area in Turpan, ground temperatures have reached approximately 75–82°C (167–180°F), according to CCTV News.

June 2026 already set the stage for this extreme event. Turpan, Shanshan, Turpan Dongkan, and Toksun all recorded 30 consecutive days of high temperatures in June, while Hainan’s Chengmai County recorded 27 high-temperature days — all historical highs for the same period, as reported by the China Weather Network.

The ‘Heat Dome’ Phenomenon

Meteorologists attribute the extreme heat to a “heat dome” — a powerful high-pressure system that has become nearly stationary, trapping hot air and preventing cooler air from entering. The phenomenon is driven by a combination of a strong continental warm high-pressure system and the Iranian subtropical high pressure affecting Xinjiang.

“This heatwave is formed under the combined influence of the Iranian subtropical high pressure and the continental high pressure,” explained Yu Bixin, Chief Forecaster at the Xinjiang Meteorological Observatory, in an interview with China Economic Net. “This heatwave has a long duration, wide impact range, and strong intensity, with extreme characteristics.”

Zhou Ying, a Senior Engineer at the China Meteorological Administration, linked the phenomenon to broader climate change patterns. “Under normal circumstances, there is a huge temperature difference between the poles and the equator, and the westerlies in between are relatively straight,” she told CCTV. “But under climate change, the temperature difference decreases, and the westerlies are prone to fluctuations. These fluctuations easily form high-pressure ridges — the systems currently affecting Xinjiang and Europe — leading to sustained and abnormal high temperatures.”

A Tale of Two Heatwaves

The heatwave presents different challenges across China’s vast geography. In northern regions like Xinjiang and Gansu, the heat is dry and intense, with low humidity but extreme temperatures. The Turpan Basin, China’s lowest point at 154 meters below sea level, acts as a natural heat trap — its surrounding mountains create a closed basin where hot air accumulates and compression heating further amplifies temperatures.

In southern China, the threat is more insidious. Under the influence of the subtropical high-pressure system, cities like Fuzhou and Hangzhou are experiencing consecutive days of high temperatures combined with humidity exceeding 60%, creating dangerous “wet-bulb” conditions where sweat evaporation is impaired. This type of humid heat can trigger heat exhaustion and cardiovascular stress even at lower temperatures.

Meteorologist Xin Xin of the China Weather Channel warned that “in the next three days, the high temperatures in the Turpan and Hami areas may break observational history records,” as reported by the Beijing News.

Typhoon Maysak Adds to the Crisis

Compounding the situation, Typhoon Maysak (No. 10 of 2026) made landfall in Lingshui County, Hainan, and is expected to make a secondary landfall on the Guangxi coast, bringing extreme rainfall to South China from July 4–6. The simultaneous occurrence of a severe heatwave in the north and a typhoon in the south highlights the increasing stress on China’s infrastructure from compounding climate extremes.

Outlook and Implications

The extreme heat in Xinjiang is expected to continue through July 7, while rainfall is forecast to bring temporary relief to North China from July 5–7. After July 9, the continental high pressure is expected to move out of China, with a new upper-level trough and Typhoon Bavi potentially bringing relief to both northern and southern regions.

However, July as a whole is forecast to be warmer than average across most of China. This heatwave is consistent with global climate change patterns showing more frequent, intense, and prolonged extreme heat events worldwide, with simultaneous heatwaves also affecting Europe and North America.

Authorities continue to urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and take precautions against heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses.