A woman helps a child to play with water at a fountain in Chongqing, July 2, 2010. [Asianewsphoto]

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued a high temperature alert Friday evening, warning that hot weather will hit China's southern regions Saturday.

Maximum temperatures will be above 35 to 37 degrees Celsius in most areas in the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and Fujian. Similarly high temperatures are also expected in the eastern parts of Guizhou Province, most parts of Chongqing and the Sichuan Basin.

Some areas in the nation's northern regions are also forecast to be hit by high temperatures.

Temperatures will reach 35 to 37 degree Celsius in some areas of Beijing and the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi and Henan.

The NMC urged relevant departments to take fire prevention measures and warned the public about heatstroke.