Temperatures across north China are to soar to near 40 degrees Celsius over the next two days, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast Thursday.

Temperatures would hit 35 degrees Celsius in southern areas of Hebei Province, northern areas of Henan Province and central Shaanxi Province, it said.

It would be even hotter in parts of northeast China's Jilin Province, with the maximum temperature reaching 38 degrees Celsius, according to the provincial meteorological center.

In Manzhouli, an inland port city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, temperatures hit 38 degree Celsius Thursday and the hot weather would last for a week, said the city's weather bureau.

Inner Mongolia's regional weather bureau Thursday urged authorities to prepare for drought relief as the hot weather and lack of rain could hurt agricultural production.

Meteorological authorities in northeast China's Helongjiang Province Wednesday issued an orange alert for the hot weather, which would linger for a week.

The orange alert, the second highest alert level, means the maximum temperature will rise above 37 degrees Celsius in 24 hours.

Mohe County, in Daxing'anling Region of Heilongjiang, the most northern area of China, witnessed its highest ever recorded temperature Thursday with the mercury hitting 39.3 degrees Celsius, an official of the county's meteorology bureau said.

The temperature had been above 30 Celsius degrees since June 15, the official said.

The NMC urged local governments to take fire prevention measures, and cautioned people to restrict outdoor activities and avoid heatstroke.

Meanwhile, torrential rains are expected to continue to pound the nation's badly-flooded south over the next two days, said the NMC.

The heavy rains and floods have ravaged 10 south China regions since mid June, leaving at least 211 dead and 119 missing.