China News Service, February 7 (Xinhua) The China Meteorological Administration held a press conference for February 2024 on the 7th. At the meeting, Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, introduced the relevant contents of the "2023 National Climate Bulletin". He said that in 2023, my country's climate conditions will generally deviate, with obvious warm and dry climate characteristics, and prominent flood and drought disasters. The year-round climate has the following characteristics:
The climate continues to warm, and the national average temperature is the highest in history
In 2023, the national average temperature was 10.71°C, 0.82°C higher than normal, the highest in history since 1951. Temperatures are relatively high in all seasons, with large fluctuations in temperature in winter and spring. Temperatures in summer and autumn are respectively the second highest and highest in the same period in history. The national average number of high temperature days was 4.4 days more than normal, the second highest number since 1961. The number of extreme heat events was the fourth most in history, and the daily maximum temperatures at stations in 127 countries broke or equaled historical records.
The national average precipitation is the second lowest since 2012
In 2023, the national average precipitation was 615.0 mm, 3.9% less than normal and the second lowest since 2012. There is less precipitation in winter, spring and summer, and more precipitation in autumn. Among the six major regions, North China, Northeast China and Northwest China have more precipitation, while the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Southwest and South China have less precipitation. Among the seven major river basins, except for the Pearl River Basin, Yangtze River Basin and Liaohe River Basin, other river basins have less precipitation. Precipitation is on the high side.
Heavy rains during the flood season are highly disastrous, and droughts and floods suddenly occur in some areas of North China and Northeast China.
In 2023, a total of 37 regional heavy rains occurred across the country, and the daily precipitation at 55 national weather stations exceeded historical extremes. Some provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) suffered from heavy rains and floods.
From May 25th to 30th, rainfall continued in Jianghuai, Huanghuai and other places, which affected the wheat harvest. Wheat in Shaanxi and Henan suffered from "bad rain"; from June to July 28, most of North China received significantly less rainfall. From the 29th to August 1st, a rare heavy rainstorm occurred in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the Haihe River experienced its first basin-wide flood since 1963. Heavy rainfall caused severe rainstorms and floods in North China, and the phenomenon of "sudden changes from drought to floods" was obvious; from the beginning of July to the first half of August, there were five obvious rainfall weather processes in Northeast China, and some areas experienced sudden changes from droughts to floods.
Regional meteorological droughts occur frequently with obvious stages
In 2023, my country's meteorological drought will be lighter than normal in general, but it will occur regionally and with obvious stages. During the year, winter and spring droughts occurred in the southwest, with Yunnan experiencing the strongest meteorological drought since 1961. Meteorological droughts occurred in the northwest, north and northeastern regions in summer, and some areas experienced "sudden droughts and floods." The upper reaches of the Yangtze River suffered from winter and spring droughts. Drought and summer drought occurred in the middle and upper reaches.
The number of typhoons forming and making landfall is relatively low, and Typhoon Dusuri has a major impact
In 2023, a total of 17 typhoons were generated in the northwest Pacific and South China Sea, 8.1 fewer than the normal average and the second fewest in history since 1949. Six of them made landfall in China, 1.1 fewer than the normal. Affected by "Dusuri"'s landfall and northward movement, historically extremely heavy rainfall occurred in North China, Huanghuai and other places. It has the characteristics of wide impact range, high rainfall intensity and huge flood volume.
Severe convective weather processes are rare, but local disasters are severe
In 2023, a total of 33 regional severe convective weather processes will occur in my country, which is less than the average of the past five years (36 events). There were 19 tornadoes of moderate intensity or above, which was more than the average of the past three years (13.3). Strong convective weather occurred in Liaoning, Jiangsu, Anhui and other places, causing serious damage to many places.
There are obviously more cold wave processes and a wide range of impacts
In 2023, a total of 33 cold air processes (including 8 cold wave processes) occurred in my country, and both cold air and cold wave processes were more common than normal. The comprehensive intensity of the cold wave process from January 13 to 16 was the strongest in 2023; during the cold wave process from December 14 to 17, the area with the largest cooling range of more than 14°C nationwide was approximately 1.625 million square kilometers; the depth of snow cover in Hebei, Beijing and Shandong It is the first in the same period in history since 1961.
There are many sandy and dusty weather in the north, which occurs early and has a severe impact.
In the spring of 2023, a total of 13 sand and dust weather processes occurred in the northern region, 2.4 more than the same period from 2000 to 2022, including 5 sand and dust storm processes. From March 19 to 24, severe sandstorms affected 20 provinces in the north. The PM10-hour peak concentration in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province exceeded 9,000 micrograms/cubic meter, the intensity second only to 2021. From April 18 to 21, sandstorms occurred in Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi and other places. The maximum concentration of PM10 in Minqin, Gansu Province exceeded 7,000 micrograms/cubic meter.