Average high temperature by region
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Global and Regional Trends in Average High Temperature
Research shows that the highest temperatures of the year are rising globally, with a notable acceleration in recent decades. Over the past 50 years, the global average high temperature increased by 0.19°C per decade, and this rate rose to 0.25°C per decade in the last 30 years. Some regions, such as large parts of Eurasia and Australia, have experienced even faster increases, exceeding 0.60°C per decade. Major cities, especially those with populations over 5 million, have seen average high temperature increases of 0.33°C per decade, with some cities like those in East Asia, Paris, Moscow, and Houston experiencing increases above 0.60°C per decade .
Regional Patterns: China and the Yangtze River Basin
In China, the annual and seasonal mean of the highest daily temperatures (Tmax) has shown a clear upward trend across most regions. The fastest summer and autumn increases in Tmax were observed in northeast China, at 0.4°C and 0.39°C per decade, respectively. All regions in China have seen more summer and warm days, and fewer cold and icing days. Notably, abnormal temperature changes often align with El Niño or La Niña years, and the Indian Ocean Basin Warming has a stronger influence on air temperature in China than other oceanic climate indices .
In southern Xinjiang, China, summer average temperatures have increased over the past 30 years, with the most rapid warming occurring at higher altitudes above 1500 meters. The number of high-temperature days has increased at all meteorological stations, and extreme high-temperature events have become more frequent and intense, especially in the last decade .
The Three Gorges Region in the Yangtze River basin experienced its two warmest years in the past decade in 2022 and 2023, with average annual temperatures 0.8°C and 0.4°C above normal, respectively. The summer of 2022 was the warmest on record, with average air temperatures 2.4°C higher than usual and nearly 25 more high-temperature days than average .
High Temperatures in Africa
In Africa, the frequency and intensity of extreme high temperatures are increasing. The probability of exceeding extreme annual maximum and mean temperature thresholds is rising, with many locations now having a 10–20% chance of multiple exceedances in a 19-year period. The return period for extreme annual maximum temperatures is now less than 6.5 years at nearly half of the region’s grid points, and less than 5.5 years for annual mean temperatures at over 80% of locations. These return periods are getting shorter over time, indicating more frequent extreme heat events .
High-Elevation and Mountain Regions
High-elevation regions across the globe are experiencing amplified warming, especially in annual mean minimum and maximum temperatures. The rate of temperature increase is generally higher at greater altitudes, with significant altitudinal amplification observed in most major mountain regions. This means that high-altitude areas are warming faster than lowland areas, particularly in terms of their highest annual temperatures . Additionally, temperature variability tends to increase with altitude in about two-thirds of mountain regions, further amplifying the impact of climate change in these sensitive environments .
Conclusion
Average high temperatures are rising worldwide, with especially rapid increases in certain regions such as Eurasia, Australia, high-altitude areas, and major cities. China and Africa are experiencing more frequent and intense high-temperature events, and high-elevation regions are warming faster than lowlands. These trends have important implications for climate adaptation, public health, and environmental management across different regions Papalexiou2018Wang2022Zhang2025+4 MORE.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Global, Regional, and Megacity Trends in the Highest Temperature of the Year: Diagnostics and Evidence for Accelerating Trends
The highest temperature of the year has accelerated globally, reaching 0.25°C per decade in the last 30 years, with strong positive trends in Eurasia and Australia, and megacities experiencing higher rates.
Fine-scale analysis of the spatiotemporal variation in high summer temperatures in southern Xinjiang, China, over the past 30 years
High summer temperatures in southern Xinjiang, China, have increased over the past 30 years, with rapid warming at high altitudes over the past 10 years.
Warming Amplification of Minimum and Maximum Temperatures over High-Elevation Regions across the Globe
High-elevation regions across the globe show significant warming amplification in minimum and maximum temperatures, with the average magnitude of amplification being larger than the global mean temperature.
January 2023: An Extremely Warm Winter Month in Thessaloniki, Greece
Extremely high temperatures in Thessaloniki, Greece, in January 2023 exceeded the climatological mean by 4.2°C on average, with the contribution of synoptic-scale atmospheric conditions.
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