BEIJING, China: Amidst warmer-than-normal weather, power consumption surged in the Chinese provinces north of the Yangtze river, with regions such as Henan, China's third-most populous province, expected to meet record electricity demands.

Meanwhile, state television stated that in Henan, which has a population of nearly 100 million people, the maximum power demand is expected to set a new record of 65.34 million kilowatts this week.

As homes and businesses increase the use of air conditioning, demand for power is set to increase in line with rising temperatures, peaking around the end of July and the start of August.

In Henan's capital Zhengzhou, temperatures recently reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

China's meteorological administration said high temperatures will continue through this week, with the main areas affected being Henan, Hebei and Shandong.

"For this region, it is rare to see such persistence and intensity in high temperatures at this time in June," it added.

In the major agricultural region of Henan, farming officials visited the province this week to check on local water supplies.

Local media reported that this month, land surface temperatures at 92 weather stations in Henan exceeded 60 degrees Celsius, with one registering 74.1 degrees.

For the first time this summer, maximum power demand in China's fourth-most populous province, Jiangsu, broke above 100 million kilowatts on 17th June.

China could be forced to limit, stagger or ration power consumption of industrial users during peak periods, due to long periods of high temperatures, noted officials.