Beijing, July 6 : Beijing on Thursday issued the highest red alert for heat as temperatures in most parts of the Chinese capital are expected to increase above 40 degrees Celsius.

This is the second red alert for high temperatures issued by the capital this summer, reports Xinhua news agency.

The temperature at Nanjiao meteorological station in southern Beijing soared to 40.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, said He Na, chief forecaster of the municipality's meteorological observatory.