Most parts of China will experience good to light air pollution during the second half of July, but some regions could face more severe conditions due to high temperatures and sandstorms, according to a forecast released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on July 15.
Moderate ozone pollution may hit parts of central-southern North China, the Fenwei Plain, and northwestern China, driven by heat waves. Meanwhile, some cities in eastern and southern Xinjiang should brace for moderate to heavy PM10 pollution from sand and dust.
Regionally, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and its surroundings will see generally stagnant dispersion conditions, with air quality mainly good to lightly polluted, though a few central cities could reach moderate levels. Beijing will experience relatively high temperatures and humidity, with possible light ozone pollution episodes from the 16th to 18th and 24th to 27th, while the rest of the period remains good. In the Yangtze River Delta, precipitation in the early part of the period will keep air quality good; later, rising temperatures will shift conditions to good-to-light pollution. The Fenwei Plain will have strong ozone formation potential in the first half, turning to mainly good conditions as rainfall increases later.
Northeast China will benefit from frequent rain and favorable dispersion, keeping most areas good, though southern parts may see ozone pollution early and mid-period. South China, influenced by southerly winds and scattered showers, will mostly stay good with localized light pollution. In the Southwest, high temperatures in Sichuan and Chongqing could bring light ozone pollution, while other areas remain good. The Northwest, with hot weather, faces higher ozone risk, and eastern parts may reach moderate levels. In Xinjiang, cities on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains could see light ozone pollution early, and some cities in the eastern and southern parts may experience moderate to severe pollution from sand and dust on specific days.
The forecast was jointly conducted by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, the National Meteorological Centre, the Joint Centre for Air Pollution Prevention and Control, and several regional air quality forecasting centres, covering the period from July 16 to 31.