Arm yourself with sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat in the next few days if you are in the north of China as the hot weather is expected to continue.

But for those in the south the rain will persist, according to the China Central Meteorological Observatory.

Residents in the national capital found themselves in a cooker atmosphere yesterday with the mercury topping out at 33 C.

And the temperatures are expected to surge this week -- a sharp U-turn from last week's cool and wet weather. Today's top is forecast to be 36 C with an overnight minimum of 22 C.

But it is not only Beijing sweating it out as a heat wave is expected to hit much of North China in the next three days, observatory meteorologist Zhang Qiang said yesterday.

Health experts warned people, when outside, to apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor rating of 15 or higher, use lip balm and wear a hat. Sunglasses should provide protection from ultraviolet rays.

During very hot weather, drink a minimum of six to eight glasses of water or fruit juice a day, even if not thirsty, officials with the Beijing Municipal Station of Health and Epidemic Prevention said.

Extreme weather can result in heatstroke, heat exhaustion, cramp, sunburn and heat rash, especially to the young, the elderly and those who are sick or overweight, they said.

However, the dry and hot weather is ideal for summer harvesting in North China, Zhang said.

In contrast, the nation's south will continue to be battered by heavy rain, especially in the coastal province of Guangdong, which was struck by torrential rain last week, he said.

There have been record rainfalls in many of the province's areas, pushing the water level of Pearl River over the warning line.

(China Daily June 17, 2003)