State of the climate over the Three Gorges Region of the Yangtze River basin in 2024

The Three Gorges Region (TGR) of the Yangtze River basin exhibited warm and dry climatic characteristics in 2024. The annual mean temperature in the TGR was 18.6°C, which was 1.2°C above normal and marked the highest level since 1961. All four seasons were warmer than normal, with spring and autumn both recording their highest temperatures since 1961. Additionally, the TGR recorded 57.2 high-temperature days in 2024, reaching a historic high since 1961 and exceeding the previous record set in 2022 by 2.4 days. Annual rainfall was 11.2% below normal, with spring, summer, and autumn all being drier than normal. However, the number of heavy rain days was slightly higher than normal. The annual mean wind speed in the TGR ranked as the second-highest since 1961, only slightly lower than in 2022. The annual mean relative humidity was below normal and the number of fog days across large areas of the TGR decreased compared to 2023. In 2024, the TGR experienced extreme high-temperature events characterized by exceptional intensity and prolonged duration, accompanied by generally severe meteorological drought conditions. During the year, the TGR also experienced frequent and intense cooling events, an early onset of heavy rainfall (including severe convective weather), and exceptionally extreme rainstorm events. 2024年长江三峡地区的气候呈暖干特征, 年平均气温创下新的纪录, 达到18.6°C, 较常年偏高1.2°C.四季气温均偏高, 其中春秋季平均气温均为1961年以来历史同期最高.高温日数为57.2天, 也为1961年以来最多.年降水量较常年偏少11.2%, 春,夏,秋三季降水均偏少, 但暴雨日数较常年略偏多.年平均风速为1961年以来第二大, 仅略低于2022年.年平均相对湿度偏小, 大部地区雾日数较2023年有所减少.2024年, 三峡地区经历极端高温事件, 高温强度强,持续时间长, 气象干旱总体偏重;强降温频次多,强度强;强降水 (强对流) 天气过程偏早, 暴雨极端性强. Key figure (only for graphical abstract online)