After weeks of unseasonably damp, chilly conditions that have kept much of the country well below average spring temperatures, a sweeping temperature surge is set to cover most regions of China this weekend, with thermometers in some urban centers predicted to jump as much as 17 degrees Celsius, national meteorological authorities have announced. Forecasters have also issued a public warning about extreme gaps between daytime and nighttime temperatures that could leave many residents unprepared for sudden weather shifts.
In the first half of this week, lingering cold air and widespread rainfall will keep temperatures suppressed in two major regions: the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, and China’s northeast. According to Weather China, the official public weather portal operated by the China Meteorological Administration, high temperatures in most of these areas will remain below 20°C through Thursday, with some locations only climbing to around 10°C. For context, Hefei, the capital of east China’s Anhui province, is forecast to top out at just 11°C on Wednesday – more than 12°C lower than the long-term average temperature for this time of year.
The weather shift will begin as early as Friday, when rainfall tapers off across most of the country. A combination of increasing solar radiation and warm air advection will drive a rapid, sustained temperature rise that will push readings above the seasonal average across most regions. Harbin, the capital of northern Heilongjiang province, is expected to hit a high of 21°C on Friday, marking the first time the city has recorded a high temperature above 20°C in 2026.
Through the weekend extending into Monday, a majority of Chinese cities will see daytime highs rebound to 25°C or higher, with multiple locations in central and southern China reaching the 30°C threshold. The most dramatic swing will be seen in Hefei, which is forecast to hit 28°C on Sunday – a stunning 17°C increase from its midweek high. On the same day, Changsha, the capital of southern Hunan province, is predicted to reach 30°C.
Northern China will see a different pattern, with frequent weak cold fronts creating alternating temperature fluctuations, most noticeably in the northeast. Most of northern China will start its warming trend on Thursday: parts of Heilongjiang will reach 20°C by Friday, while some areas of Liaoning province will see highs climb above 25°C.
Across northwestern, northern and northeastern parts of the country, the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows could reach 15°C, and in some locations even exceed 20°C. Following this widespread warm-up period, weak cold air masses will remain the norm across China, but their impact will be limited. The size of daily temperature swings will shrink gradually in most regions, while the summer heat zone in southern China will expand slowly, bringing the country closer to the official start of summer.









