Beijing bathed in sweat as humidity continues

A wave of high humidity and soaring temperatures is sweeping across northern China, leaving residents in a sticky, sweaty situation rarely experienced in the region.

In Beijing, phrases like "Beijing's tropical rainforest" and "stepping out in Beijing is like being licked by a cow" have taken off on social media as the city grapples with sauna-like conditions that show no signs of abating.

Relative humidity in Beijing briefly reached 100 percent on July 3, with most of northern China seeing humidity above 85 percent, according to Sun Jun, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.