China's average temperature during the September-November period was 11.2 degrees centigrade, 1.6 degrees higher than the same period in previous years, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said on Friday.

 

It was the fourth consecutive year that China reported high temperatures in autumn, said Zhang Qiang, with the CMA.

 

Zhang said 14 of the country's 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities reported their highest average temperatures since 1951.

 

Average temperatures in northwest and east China, central and western Inner Mongolia, as well as areas in the valleys of the Yellow River and Huaihe River were two to four degrees higher than normal.

 

However, the country received less rain from September to November, with rainfall in northeast and east China and valleys of the Yellow River and Huaihe River up to 50 percent below the average level.

 

The unusual weather has caused droughts in large areas of central and east China. However, the situation was eased by rains in late November.

 

Meteorological experts attributed the unusual weather conditions to the high pressure dominating a wide area around Lake Baikal in Russia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2006)