Weather forecasting can meet the challenges

Editor's Note: In recent years, extreme weather events have become increasingly frequent. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Jin Ronghua, director-general of the National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration, explained the reasons behind the surge in extreme weather events, changes in weather patterns and why weather forecasts may sometimes appear inaccurate. Following are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

In summer, due to the influence of the subtropical high, large parts of China often experience hot weather. This year, the subtropical high has strengthened. At the same time, the continental high has also been more active, often leading to clear and sunny conditions. Together, these two systems have contributed to widespread abnormal high temperatures across the country.

High temperatures are normal in summer. However, in late June, the northeastern region, especially parts of Heilongjiang, experienced temperatures above 35 C, which was indeed unusual. In some areas, the temperatures even broke historical records since meteorological data began to be recorded in 1961.