Temperatures in Beijing could rise to more than 35 C from Wednesday to Friday, the city's meteorological center said on Tuesday as it released a yellow alert for high temperatures.

It is the capital's first alert for high temperatures this year. It advised people to take precautions against heat stroke and fire, especially around midday.

Beijing officially entered the summer season on May 7 this year, 12 days earlier than the average date, the center said. Meanwhile, Beijing's spring, which started on March 26, only lasted one and a half months.

The National Meteorological Center forecast that a heat wave will sweep across not only Beijing but also the country's northern region, including Hebei, Henan and Shandong provinces, and Tianjin municipality. These areas will see temperatures as high as 37 C.

Cooler weather is expected to bring a little relief starting on Saturday, the center said. The daily high temperatures in Beijing are expected to drop to below 30 C early next week.

China Daily - Xinhua