The Qinghai Provincial Meteorological Bureau recently held a press conference to summarize the weather and climate conditions in Qinghai Province in 2023. According to the bureau, the province experienced higher temperatures and excessive precipitation throughout the year, with various extreme weather and climate events occurring.
The annual average temperature in Qinghai Province was 3.4°C, which is 0.6°C higher than normal. The temperature was particularly higher in winter, summer, and autumn, with the most significant increase being in autumn. Additionally, the annual average precipitation was 409.6 mm, 7.5% more than normal. The precipitation was less in summer and more in winter, spring, and autumn, and extreme weather events such as heavy precipitation, cold waves, sand and dust, and continuous rain occurred frequently throughout the year.
The top ten weather and climate events in Qinghai Province in 2023 include extreme snowfall in February, unprecedented spring dust storms, meteorological drought in the northern region in summer, severe floods in the Sanjiangyuan area, and heavy precipitation in various places in September. The Sanjiangyuan area also experienced the most consecutive rainy days in history in December.
The extreme weather also had a significant impact on the region. For example, 10 sand and dust weather processes affected a total of 33 counties in 8 cities, with the most occurrences in the past 20 years. In August, droughts and floods in the Sanjiangyuan area caused severe floods in the Tuotuo River Basin and Tongtian River Zhimenda Station. Additionally, heavy rain and flood disasters occurred in several counties and autonomous prefectures.
In mid-December, Qinghai Province experienced three cold wave weather processes, affecting a wide range and with strong intensity. A total of 40 counties reached different degrees of cold wave standards, with some areas experiencing daily minimum temperatures below -20°C, the strongest in history.
The extreme weather events in 2023 have brought significant challenges to the people of Qinghai Province, affecting various aspects of daily life, transportation, and agriculture.
The Qinghai Provincial Meteorological Bureau’s summary of 2023’s weather and climate conditions serves as a reminder of the importance of monitoring and preparing for extreme weather events, and the need for adaptation and resilience in the face of a changing climate.