October heat records reported across southern China after temperatures reach 39.5°C (103.1°F)
Late-season heat affected southern China from September 25 into early October 2026, with official reports placing temperatures at 39.5°C (103.1°F) in Qiaojia, Yunnan, 39.1°C (102.4°F) in Yongding, Fujian, and 38°C (100.4°F) in Guangxin, Jiangxi. An independent analysis of station data identified 62 October maximum-temperature records on October 1 and another 18 on October 2, although Chinese meteorological authorities have not published an equivalent record count.
Image credit: Tropical Tidbits
China Weather said widespread hot and humid conditions affected Jiangnan and southern China from September 25 to 30 under the influence of the western Pacific subtropical high.
Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, southeastern Hunan, northern Guangxi and central and eastern Guangdong experienced four to five high-temperature days. Some areas reached 37–38°C (98.6–100.4°F).
The Menggu station in Qiaojia County, Yunnan reached 39.5°C (103.1°F) during the 24 hours preceding 10:01 LT (02:01 UTC) on September 30.
The Yongding District Meteorological Observatory in Fujian reported temperatures above 37°C (98.6°F) in several communities during the 24 hours preceding 15:55 LT (07:55 UTC) on September 30. Xianshi recorded the district’s highest temperature at 39.1°C (102.4°F).
Jiangxi’s Climate Center reported that Guangxin reached 38.0°C (100.4°F) on September 28 during a provincial heat episode from September 25 to 29. Jiangxi’s average temperature from September 1 to 29 was 26.4°C (79.5°F), or 1.4°C (2.5°F) above normal.
An independent analysis compiling station observations reported that 19 stations set or tied late-September maximum-temperature records on September 30. Two reportedly reached or tied their records for the entire month of September, while eight set or tied September records for their highest daily minimum temperatures.
The same analysis identified a larger concentration of records on October 1, when 62 stations reportedly set or tied their highest October maximum temperatures and 49 set or tied records for their warmest October daily minimum temperatures.
On October 2, the analyst reported that 18 stations broke October maximum-temperature records and 19 broke records for the highest October daily minimum. Yuanyang, Yunnan, reportedly reached 39.4°C (102.9°F), which the analyst described as a provincial October record.
National Meteorological Center observation archives also showed exceptionally high temperatures continuing in southern Yunnan into early October.
Cold air and widespread rain subsequently displaced the heat. By October 2, temperatures had fallen by approximately 8–12°C (14–22°F) in parts of southwestern Hunan, northern Guangxi, western Jiangxi, northwestern Fujian and northeastern Guangdong.
The episode followed an exceptionally warm summer across China. CMA reported a national June–August average temperature of 22.1°C (71.8°F), or 0.9°C (1.6°F) above normal and the fourth-highest summer value on record.
China averaged 11.5 high-temperature days during the summer, compared with the climatological average of 8.0 days. Seventy-four national weather stations reached or exceeded historical daily maximum-temperature records.
A widespread high-temperature episode lasted 58 days from July 2 through August 28. Dongkan station in Turpan reached 49.8°C (121.6°F) on July 21, which CMA identified as a record for China’s national meteorological-station network.
Prolonged summer heat also increased electricity demand. By August 11, the five provincial-level regions served by China Southern Power Grid—Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan—had collectively registered more than 20 record power-load peaks during 2026.
Hong Kong recorded its highest temperature since observations began at the Observatory in 1884 when the headquarters reached 36.9°C (98.4°F) on August 9. Sheung Shui reached 39.8°C (103.6°F), the highest reading reported in Hong Kong since the automatic weather-station network was established in the 1980s.
References:
1 Widespread high temperature and humidity expected through the end of September – China Weather – September 25, 2026
2 Qiaojia County continues orange heat warning after 39.5°C observation – Qiaojia County Meteorological Observatory / National Emergency Broadcasting – September 30, 2026
3 National daily-temperature observations – National Meteorological Center – accessed October 3, 2026
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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