China's National Meteorological Center has issued a red alert for hot weather, predicting temperatures of 40℃ or higher in various parts of the country, CTGN reports.

The exceptional heat is expected to continue for another week in Hubei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Sichuan and areas in the south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The National Meteorological Center has been issuing heat warnings for 23 consecutive days. The highest temperatures recorded at 38 national weather stations in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are expected to reach or exceed historical records.

A red alert level is usually issued when temperatures reach 40℃ or higher for 48 hours in at least four provinces. The warning is also a sign that the heat wave is likely to continue, according to an expert at the National Meteorological Center.