The national average temperature in China this summer reached 22 degrees Celsius¹, the highest since 1961, with 55 weather monitoring stations posting record high daily temperatures, a meteorological official said last Monday.

一位气象局官员上周一表示，今年夏季我国平均气温达到22℃，为1961年以来最高，全国有55个气象监测站日最高气温突破历史极值。

Compared to normal years, the national average reading made from June to August was one degree higher, while summer high temperatures lasted longer, covered more areas and came along with more extreme weather this year, Zhang Zuqiang, director of the emergency relief and public service department of China Meteorological Administration, said at a press conference.

中国气象局应急减灾与公共服务司司长张祖强在新闻发布会上表示，今年6月至8月全国平均气温较常年同期偏高1℃，夏季高温时间更长、范围更广、极端天气事件更多。

In August, China's national average temperature reached 22.2 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees higher than normal years.

今年八月，我国平均气温达到22.2℃，比往年要高出1.2℃。

Extreme high temperatures were mostly reported in Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, Hubei and Shandong.

极端高温事件主要出现在吉林、辽宁、内蒙古、四川、湖北和山东。

Zhang said the lingering high temperatures in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were detrimental² to the growth of crops.

张祖强称，长江中下游的高气温对农作物的生长是有害的。

In September, most regions of the country are expected to record an average temperature close to or higher than that of the normal years, with normal or slightly heavier precipitation, which is conducive³ to the growth of autumn crops.

今年9月，预计中国大部分地区的平均气温将接近或高于正常年份，降水量正常或稍重，这有利于秋季作物的生长。