The strongest El Nino event on record is expected to have a significant impact on China’s climate this winter and next spring, a climate official said Tuesday.
The event reached record strength in October and is expected to peak in late autumn or early winter, Gao Rong, deputy director of the National Climate Center, said at a press conference in Beijing.
For the winter of 2026-2027, temperatures across China are forecast to be generally above normal. However, cold waves are expected to occur slightly more frequently than usual, with sharp temperature fluctuations. Northern China faces a heightened risk of sudden temperature drops and heavy snowfall, while the south could experience periods of low temperatures, rain, snow and freezing conditions, Gao said.
Precipitation nationwide is also expected to be above normal. Much of northern China could see frequent heavy snowfall, while southern regions are forecast to receive significantly more precipitation than usual, according to Gao.
