State of China’s climate in 2024

Abstract

The year 2024 witnessed remarkable climatic anomalies across China, characterized by pronounced warm and wet conditions. The annual mean temperature soared to a record high since 1951, with seasonal temperatures in spring, summer, and autumn all exceeding historical extremes. Meanwhile, the annual precipitation ranked as the fourth highest on record, with all four seasons experiencing above-average rainfall. Notably, the Yangtze River Basin and Jiangnan region encountered their most intense precipitation event since 1961. Extreme weather events were particularly striking: An unusually early and severe heatwave swept through central and eastern China, becoming the second most intense high-temperature event in recorded history. Autumn typhoon activity also displayed exceptional intensity, with Typhoon Yagi triggering significant impacts in Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Although drought conditions were generally mild overall, notable seasonal and regional disparities emerged, especially in the winter–spring droughts affecting southwestern China. Conversely, cold outbreaks occurred more frequently than usual, and convective weather events exhibited heightened activity. Moreover, dust storm activity remained relatively limited.

摘要

2024年中国气候异常特征显著, 呈现突出的暖湿气候态势. 全国平均气温创1951年以来历史新高, 春, 夏, 秋三季气温均为历史最高; 年降水量位列历史第四高位, 四季降水均偏多, 其中长江流域和江南地区降水量更创1961年以来最强纪录, 极端天气事件尤为突出: 中东部地区遭遇历史罕见的早发强高温天气, 高温强度居历史第二; 秋季台风活动异常活跃, 台风"摩羯"给海南, 广东, 广西带来显著影响. 尽管全年干旱总体偏轻, 但季节性和区域性差异明显, 西南地区冬春连旱尤为显著. 与此同时, 冷空气过程较常年偏多, 强对流天气呈现高发态势, 而沙尘天气则相对偏少.