BEIJING - Beijing has raised its hot weather warning to the highest level, "red," in their color-coded alert system. The Chinese capital is expecting scorching temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

On Thursday, the city experienced its hottest June day on record, with the temperature surpassing 41 degrees Celsius. The highest reading was recorded in a weather station located in the southern suburbs, which registered 41.1 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. This broke the previous June record set on June 10, 1961, when the temperature reached 40.6 degrees Celsius.

The China Meteorological Administration has predicted that high temperatures will persist in the northern regions of the country for the next eight to ten days. Monitoring and warnings for high temperatures will continue in several areas, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Inner Mongolia.

In Tianjin, a major port city in northern China with a population exceeding 13 million, the temperature on Thursday soared to 41.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing local records.

Authorities issued a warning on Friday regarding the prolonged period of high temperatures, cautioning about potential health risks such as an elevated risk of stroke. They advised individuals to consume a minimum of 1.5 liters of water each day and limit their outdoor activities.