China Climate
Top 5 Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Macau, and Macao
This month in numbers
China experienced its 2nd warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 10.1°C, marking a significant anomaly of +2.6°C compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April for land temperatures on record, with an anomaly of +1.1°C. The period of February to April 2026 also ranked as the 2nd warmest globally for land temperatures, with an anomaly of +1.2°C.
What changed
This past April in China was notably warmer than average, continuing a trend of above-average temperatures seen in recent months. The country's 1-month anomaly of +2.59°C placed it 61st globally out of 234 regions. This warmth in China contrasts with some cooler anomalies observed in other parts of the world, such as North Dakota and Paraguay, which experienced the coolest 1-month anomalies.
What’s driving change?
The significant warmth experienced in China during April is consistent with the broader global warming trend. The current ENSO state is Neutral, but an El Niño is strongly forecast to develop in the coming months, with an 82% probability for May-Jul and increasing to 98% for Aug-Oct. Historically, El Niño events have been associated with warmer and wetter conditions in East Asia, including China, particularly during winter, and an increased risk of Yangtze flooding in the following summer. China has also faced a dramatic contrast in weather, with northern regions experiencing unusually intense early-season heat, while southern and central provinces have battled torrential rain and dense fog. A drought event has been ongoing in China since January 21, 2026, representing 100% of the annual total for such events, which is an unusual concentration. Additionally, a wildfire event was reported in Hebei on May 7, 2026, and floods have caused at least 25 deaths and forced thousands to evacuate across central and southern China in mid-May, with some areas experiencing record-breaking rainfall. More information on these events can be found at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
With a strong El Niño forecast to develop and persist through the coming months, China can anticipate warmer and potentially wetter conditions, particularly in the south, with an elevated risk of flooding in the Yangtze River basin.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for China
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in China changing?
China is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for China come from?
Climate data for China comes from Our World in Data, sourcing Copernicus ERA5 and HadCRUT5 (national temperature anomaly) and the Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data (CO₂ emissions), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the China climate data cover?
The China climate profile covers Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and surrounding areas. The largest emitter and largest renewables builder
How often is the China climate update refreshed?
The China climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.