Owing to tremendous differences in latitude, longitude, and altitude, the climate of China is extremely diverse. It ranges from tropical in the far south to subarctic in the far north, and alpine in the higher elevations of the Tibetan Plateau. Monsoon winds, caused by differences in the heat-absorbing capacity of the continent and the ocean, dominate the climate. During the summer, the East Asian Monsoon carries warm and moist air from the south and delivers the vast majority of the annual precipitation in much of the country. Conversely, the Siberian anticyclone dominates during winter, bringing cold and comparatively dry conditions. The advance and retreat of the monsoons account, in large degree, for the timing of the rainy season throughout the country. Although most of the country lies in the temperate belt, its climatic patterns are complex.
Sanbao Township in Xinjiang currently holds the highest recorded temperature in China, at on 16 July 2023. Mohe City, Heilongjiang, holds the record for the lowest temperature in China, at on 22 January 2023.
Overview
Temperature
The northern extremities of both Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia have a subarctic climate with long, severe winters, and short, warm summers. In contrast, most of Hainan Island and parts of the extreme southern fringes of Yunnan have a tropical climate. Temperature differences in winter are considerable, but in summer, the variance is considerably less. For example, Mohe County, Heilongjiang, has a 24-hour average temperature in January approaching , while the corresponding figure in July exceeds . By contrast, most of Hainan, including the city of Haikou, has a January mean over , while the July mean there is generally around .
In summer, temperatures can be very hot and humid, and the cities of Chongqing, Wuhan, and Nanjing are sometimes referred to as the Three Furnaces (). Other cities are also known by this name. Even so, the hottest temperatures nationwide are recorded in the Turpan Depression, where the climate is much drier and temperatures often exceed .
Permafrost can be found at high elevations in the Tibetan Plateau and the Tian Shan mountains, as well as other mountainous areas in Northern China.
Precipitation
In the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry, while in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist. Precipitation is almost always concentrated in the warmer months, though annual totals range from less than in northwestern Qinghai and the Turpan Depression of Xinjiang, to over in areas of southeast China, such as Hong Kong and Guangdong. Toksun County, located in the Turpan Depression, has an average rainfall of just annually, the lowest precipitation in any area in China. High pressure cells create cold, dry conditions in the Gobi Desert in winter. Only in some pockets of the Dzungaria region of Xinjiang is the conspicuous seasonal variation in precipitation that defines Chinese (and, to a large extent, East Asian) climate absent. The East Asian Monsoon, which controls the seasonal precipitation, varies from year to year. It has historically been known as the plum rain. Scientists have used pollen and dust to track its movements.
Typhoons and flooding
Typhoons can affect China. In 1975, Typhoon Nina struck China, and may have killed up to 230,000 people as a result of the subsequent Banqiao Dam failure and famines. Other death estimates remain below 100,000. In 2006, Typhoon Saomai became one of the strongest typhoons to hit China when it made landfall in Zhejiang. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan caused extensive damage in China, causing economic losses of ¥4.58 billion (US$752 million). That same year, Typhoon Fitow became one of the costliest typhoons to strike China, with several places setting rainfall records. It was the costliest Chinese typhoon on record and caused several billion dollars in damage before it was beaten 10 years later by Typhoon Doksuri. In 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut caused $1.99 billion in damage within China. In 2021, Typhoon In-fa caused record-breaking rainfall in parts of China, and over 12,000 temporary shelters had to be set up in Zhejiang. In 2022, Typhoon Muifa became the strongest typhoon to landfall in Shanghai.