China Climate – June 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Macau, and Macao
This month in numbers
China experienced its 2nd warmest June on record, with an average temperature of 18.82°C, a significant 1.7°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This follows an exceptionally warm spring, as the April–June 2026 period also ranked as the 2nd warmest on record, at 14.55°C, a full 2°C above the baseline. Globally, June 2026 was the 3rd warmest on record for land temperatures, and the April–June period was the 2nd warmest.
What changed
The consistent warmth seen in China over the past three months, with both June and the April–June period ranking as the 2nd warmest on record, indicates a strong warming trend. This regional pattern aligns with the broader global picture, which also saw its 2nd warmest April–June for land temperatures. China's June anomaly of +1.71°C placed it 74th globally for the month, while its 3-month anomaly of +2.00°C ranked it 89th out of 234 regions.
What’s driving change?
The persistent warmth in China is occurring during a weak El Niño phase, with the NOAA ONI 3-month anomaly for April-June 2026 at +0.98°C. El Niño typically brings warmer and wetter conditions to East Asia, including China, during the winter months, and can increase the risk of Yangtze flooding in the following summer. This month, China has also been impacted by tropical cyclone activity. Tropical Storm Maysak brought record rainfall and severe flooding to southern Guangxi province in early July, resulting in 39 fatalities and widespread evacuations. Additionally, Typhoon Bavi, a powerful storm that had previously reached super typhoon strength, is currently approaching China's eastern coast, with forecasts of heavy rainfall and strong winds for Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. This represents an unusual concentration of tropical cyclone events, with one event logged in the past 12 months and the recent activity accounting for 100% of that annual total. For more details on extreme weather events, visit Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
The ongoing El Niño is forecast to persist through the end of 2026, suggesting a continued likelihood of warmer conditions for China in the coming months.
Sources:
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – China
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
China – Monthly Temperature – All Years
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Records – China
Our World in Data / NOAA - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm/cold + wet/dryKöppen Dwb · ContinentalChina has both a clear warm/cold cycle (±14.0°C) and a wet/dry cycle (10× wet:dry ratio). Both sides of the annual rhythm are shown below.
Monthly rainfall climatology. A “wet month” exceeds the baseline monthly mean (dashed gold line). Biggest month-to-month shift: Jun (+11 mm, +12%).
Data: Our World in Data / NOAA (rainfall: World Bank CCKP / CRU TS 4.08). Baseline: first 30 yrs on record. Recent: last 10 yrs on record.
Rainfall & Precipitation
Rainfall & Rain Days – Totals
Baseline: 1961–1990 mean. Anomaly: difference from that baseline. Rank: position in the full record (1st = highest ever). Record: highest (or lowest) value on record with its year.
Emissions & Energy
Explore
Explore Climate Data
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 headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and 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.