Features of Weather and Climate in China 2003

In 2003 (from December 2002 to November 2003), the characteristics of weather and climate in China were summarized as follows:the annual precipitation was more than normal with higher temperature. The annual precipitation in China was 33.9mm more than normal, but its temporal and spatial distribution were uneven. In North China there was more rainfall, in contrast to the deficient counterpart in southern China. The severe flooding appeared in the Huaihe valley during flooding season (June-Aug.) and in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River during the autumn. However, the large-scale drought happened in Northeast China during the spring, and in the South China during the summer and autumn. The annual mean temperature in China was 0.6℃ higher than normal, which was warmer than normal for the seventh successive year. Particularly, the temperatures in the south of China were markedly higher than normal. The areas of South China (south of the Yangtze River) were frequently hit by anomalous hot wave in summer. The meteorological disasters frequently predominated China during 2003. More lose were caused by drought, rainstorm-caused flooding, anomalous high temperature, low temperature with continuing rainfall, and hail.

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