Beijing Forecast to Have Wetter Autumn and Winter, Sharp Cold Snaps

What changed

Beijing’s meteorological authorities forecast a wetter-than-usual autumn and winter from November 2026 through February 2027, with average temperatures slightly above normal but unusually sharp swings.

The forecast calls for:

• Average temperatures of -1°C to 0°C.
• Precipitation of 26–33 millimetres, or 10–50% above normal.
• Possible January lows of -16°C to -14°C.
• A higher chance of strong snowfall in February.

Why it matters

A warmer seasonal average will not mean consistently mild weather. Beijing could move quickly from relatively warm conditions into dangerous cold, strong winds or heavy snow. January is the key concern, with the authorities seeing a high likelihood of a period of extreme low temperatures.

That volatility matters for city operations and daily planning. Sudden cold snaps can put pressure on heating and transport, while snowfall can disrupt movement even when the season as a whole is warmer than usual. The timing, duration and location of these events remain uncertain.

Dry, windy intervals create a separate risk: higher weather-related forest-fire danger. Beijing authorities are therefore treating the overall seasonal outlook as relatively adverse, despite the warmer average.