Most of the country is sunny and dry, while many regions in the south experience the coldest daytime temperatures of the past six months.
From December 15 to 16, most areas across the country will continue to experience limited rain and snow, with predominantly clear and dry weather. The public is advised to stay hydrated and combat dryness. In the coming period, another cold air mass is expected to push southward, leading to larger temperature variations between day and night in the southern regions, with many areas feeling significantly colder than usual for this time of year, necessitating enhanced warming measures.
As cold air continues to move south, most areas of the country experienced little rain and snow yesterday, with northern regions enjoying mostly sunny weather, while many southern areas saw a rare return of clear skies. The scope of precipitation has been reduced primarily to southwestern and northeastern regions, with light rain and snow.
Today and tomorrow, the nationwide precipitation range is expected to shrink further. According to the Central Meteorological Administration, today, some areas in eastern Inner Mongolia, eastern Northeast China, northwestern Xinjiang, and southern Sichuan may experience light snow or rain mixed with snow, particularly in the northern regions of Xinjiang and the Ili River Valley where moderate to heavy snow is anticipated. Light rain is also expected in parts of southern Sichuan, central and southern Yunnan, and eastern Taiwan.
Tomorrow, parts of northern Xinjiang will receive light to moderate snow, while areas in northern Xinjiang, the Ili River Valley, and along the Tianshan Mountain region may face heavy to blizzard conditions. Light rain is expected in parts of western Yunnan and eastern and southern Taiwan.
Meteorological experts remind that most areas of the country will experience limited precipitation today and tomorrow, with clear and dry conditions. Many places will see afternoon relative humidity drop below 30%, and in some areas, it may even fall below 20%, prompting the public to ensure adequate hydration. Additionally, the dry weather increases the risk of fire, and the public is urged to avoid careless disposal of fire sources during outdoor activities and to prioritize fire and electrical safety.
In the southern regions, many areas welcomed their coldest daytime temperatures of the latter half of the year yesterday, with record low maximum temperatures in places including Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Haikou. Meanwhile, northern regions saw a rebound in daytime maximum temperatures, aided by sunshine.
In the next ten days, cold air will continue to move southward, with temperatures across various regions experiencing fluctuations. The average temperature in most areas south of the Yellow River and Huai River will be 1°C to 3°C below the historical average for this time of year, with many southern areas falling below 4°C.
It is important to note that while daytime temperatures in the south may rise due to sunshine, early morning and late evening temperatures will see a slight drop due to radiative cooling effects. The zero-degree Celsius line is projected to push towards the southern parts of Zhejiang and northern Fujian, creating a pronounced temperature difference between day and night, often reaching 10°C to 15°C. For instance, in Wuhan, the day-night temperature difference will reach 15°C today and 17°C tomorrow, which is rare for December in the area.
Given the current seasonal progression, regions like Jiangnan have now entered winter, with winter’s approach continuing southward into northern South China, leading to noticeable cold in the early morning and late evening. The public is advised to strengthen their warming measures.
