Beijing sounds first high-temperature alarm of this year

BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Beijing reported the first high-temperature alarm of this year on Monday, said Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

Beijing reported the first high-temperature alarm of  this year on Monday, said Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

The alarm, reported at 11:20 a.m., was an Orange Alarm, the second level of meteorological alarms, saying the highest temperature will reach 37 degrees Celsius Monday afternoon, according to the bureau.

"The sunshine has been strong, the air has been dry and the winds have been strong these days in Beijing. The weather of this kind is defined as dry hot wind," said Guo Hu, head of the bureau.

The dry hot wind usually appears in north China in May and June, which harms crops, especially wheat, but does no harm to people, Guo said.

The temperature in Beijing had been two-to-three degrees Celsius higher than usual since May, Guo said.