BEIJING — China experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with average temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels, according to the China Climate Bulletin 2024 released by the National Climate Center.
The bulletin, unveiled at a press briefing in Beijing, reported that China’s national average temperature reached 10.9 degrees Celsius in 2024, the highest since records began in 1951. All four seasons recorded above-normal temperatures, with spring, summer, and autumn setting historic highs.
“Following the El Niño influence from the previous year and against the backdrop of climate warming, China’s annual average temperature has reached a new historic high in 2024,” said Xiao Chan, deputy director of the National Climate Center.
Xiao highlighted that the past year was marked by “complex weather patterns, pronounced climate anomalies, frequent and intense extreme events, and prevalent meteorological disasters.” The number of high-temperature days nationwide was 6.6 days above average, the second-highest since 1961.
In addition to the heat, the country faced frequent heavy rainfall and other precipitation events, causing significant damage. The national average precipitation was the fourth highest since 1951.
The annual bulletin provides a comprehensive analysis of China’s climate conditions, monitoring systems, and major meteorological disasters and extreme weather events, offering crucial insights into the impacts of climate change on the nation.
