Three Gorges 2025 Climate Report: Second-hottest year on record, worst autumn rains in 43 years
Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
image:
Annual variations in (a) temperature (units: °C), (b) precipitation (units: mm) and (c–d) acid rain monitoring over the TGR.
view moreCredit: Tong Cui
A report titled "Climate State of the Three Gorges Region in the Yangtze River Basin in 2025", with Senior Engineer Tong Cui of the National Climate Center, China as the first author and Researcher Prof. Xianyan Chen as the corresponding author, has been recently published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters (AOSL). The report provides a systematic analysis of climatic anomalies and high-impact weather and climate events in the Three Gorges region during 2025. This is the seventh consecutive year that the National Climate Center has released its annual climate report for the Three Gorges Region in AOSL.
The report reveals that in 2025, the annual average temperature in the Three Gorges area was significantly above normal, registering 1.1°C higher than the climatological mean—making it the second warmest year since 1961. Meanwhile, the number of high-temperature days ranked third highest on record. During the summer in particular, persistent heatwaves swept across the central-eastern parts and the northwestern region, with many localities breaking historical temperature highs. In terms of precipitation, the annual total reached 1234.2 mm, which is 3.7% above the long-term average, with the eastern part of the region receiving particularly abundant rainfall. However, the rainfall was far from evenly distributed: spring heavy rainfall arrived earlier and with greater intensity, and its frequency markedly exceeded the climatic norm; summer torrential rains were fierce, with short-duration extreme downpours putting urban flood defenses to the test.
Moreover, from September to October, the Three Gorges region experienced its longest autumn rain spell since 1983. Analysis indicates that this "extended" autumn rainy episode was driven by a tug-of-war between weak cold air masses and warm, moist airflows—although the cold air was not particularly strong, it frequently moved southward and repeatedly converged with warm, moisture-laden air from the South China Sea, ultimately resulting in widespread overcast and rainy conditions. These climatic features not only underscore the growing trend of extreme weather becoming more frequent, but also pose new challenges for regional disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as for the safe operation of major engineering projects.
Situated in the transitional zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinling-Daba mountainous area, the Three Gorges region is characterized by high mountains and deep valleys with substantial vertical elevation differences. This unique topography is the primary factor shaping its local climate, and the frequent occurrence of meteorological disasters in the region is closely linked to both terrain and climatic conditions. Therefore, continuous climate and environmental monitoring in this area is of great significance.
According to Tong Cui, since 1996, multiple Chinese government agencies have jointly established the ecological and environmental local climate monitoring network for the Three Gorges Project. The "Climate State Report of the Three Gorges Region" is a flagship product of this network. To date, the monitoring network has accumulated over 60 years of continuous meteorological data. These invaluable first-hand data and research findings not only provide a solid scientific foundation for revealing the patterns and impacts of climate change in the Three Gorges region, but also constitute an indispensable data asset for ensuring the safe operation of the Three Gorges Project and for the long-term ecological monitoring system in the area.
Journal
Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters
Article Title
Climate state of the Three Gorges Region in the Yangtze River Basin in 2025
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