Last year was wetter and warmer in China

China experienced markedly warm and wet climate conditions in 2025, with the national average temperature tying for the highest on record and extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense, according to the China Climate Bulletin (2025) released recently.

The bulletin shows that China's annual average temperature reached 10.9 C in 2025, standing 1 C above the 1991-2020 average. The figure matched that of 2024, making the two years the warmest since 1951. The number of high-temperature days nationwide also reached a record high. From late June to early September, large swaths of central and eastern China experienced prolonged and widespread heat waves.

Meanwhile, the country's average annual rainfall was 4.5 percent higher than the long-term average. During the summer, frequent rainstorms triggered severe flooding in parts of northern China, particularly from late July to early August. "Rainfall during the rainy season in North China reached historic highs both in total volume and duration, while western China recorded its heaviest autumn rains on record," said Gao Rong, deputy director of the National Climate Center.

Typhoon activity was also higher than usual, with both the number of typhoons generated and those making landfall exceeding the average. Between September and October, five consecutive typhoons made landfall in or affected southern China, he said at a news conference on Thursday.

Meteorological drought conditions were generally mild nationwide, but regional and seasonal droughts were evident. Parts of southern China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River experienced consecutive winter and spring droughts, according to the bulletin. The number of strong wind days reached the highest level since 1991. Sandstorm activity increased in spring, and the first sandstorm event occurred later than usual.

"China's complex and highly variable weather patterns in 2025 were the result of multiple atmospheric and oceanic factors interacting across different time scales," Gao said, noting the early northward movement and subsequent retreat of the subtropical high, a strong East Asian summer monsoon, and intensified rainstorms in North and Northeast China.

Vegetation growth during the growing season reached its highest level for the same period this century, with particularly strong growth observed in western parts of Northeast China and central and eastern parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

In addition, meteorological authorities have issued targeted forecasts and service measures for the peak Spring Festival travel season and the weeklong holiday in February. Huang Zhuo, deputy director of the National Meteorological Center, said a strong cold air mass is expected to affect central and eastern China from Feb 5 to 7, bringing widespread strong winds and sharp temperature drops. Temperatures in most regions are forecast to fall by 4 to 8 C, with some areas seeing declines of more than 10 C.

For popular ice-and-snow tourism destinations such as Northeast China and parts of Inner Mongolia, Huang advised travelers to take precautions against wind and cold. Rounds of rain and snow are forecast to affect the country from Feb 10 to 13, which could disrupt transportation. "Authorities and the public should closely monitor the impact of weather events on travel during peak Spring Festival periods," Huang said.

He also forecast another cold air process in the early part of the Spring Festival holiday from Feb 15 to 23. During the travel rush, the China Meteorological Administration will provide daily weather service briefings to better serve the public, he added.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn