State of China's Climate in 2020

This report is a summary of China's climate, as well as major weather and climate events, during 2020. In 2020, the mean air temperature in China was 10.25 degrees C, which was 0.7 degrees C above normal (1981-2010 average), and the annual rainfall was 694.8 mm, which was 10.3% above normal. In general, disasters caused by rainstorms and flooding were more serious than those by drought. In summer, southern China experienced the most severe flooding with extreme heavy rainstorms since 1998. Drought brought slight impacts and losses in China. The seasonal transition from spring to summer was earlier than normal. High temperatures occurred earlier than normal with extreme values, and lasted longer than normal in summer over the south of China. The number of landfalling typhoons was lower than normal. Cold-air processes had a wide influence and brought a substantial decrease in air temperature in local areas. Compared with the average values of the past 10 years, the affected crop area and the numbers of deaths and missing persons in 2020 were significantly smaller, while direct economic losses were slightly larger.

Automated summary

In 2020, China experienced above normal temperatures and rainfall, with more serious disasters caused by rainstorms and flooding than by drought. Summer saw the most severe flooding in southern China since 1998, while the number of landfalling typhoons was lower than normal. Cold-air processes had a wide influence, reducing air temperatures in some areas.