Impact of the North Atlantic sea surface temperature on the summer high temperature in northern China

This study investigates the relationship between the summer high temperature in northern China and the northern North Atlantic (NNA) sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the previous winter and spring during the period 1981–2017. In northern China, mean maximum temperature ( T max ) above 31°C and high frequencies of hot days are concentrated in June–July. SSTAs in the NNA in the previous December–April have a significant positive relationship with the mean T max from the Yellow River Basin to the north of the Yangtze River in June–July, and this significant positive correlation still exists after removing the trends. Correlation and composition analysis suggests that the NNA SST and high temperature in northern China are connected by the mid‐latitude wave‐train circulation anomalies across the Atlantic and Europe. Warm SSTAs in the NNA in winter and spring favour anticyclonic circulations in the NNA, Western Europe and the south of Lake Baikal, and cyclonic circulations in the northeastern North Atlantic and the Ural Mountains. The positive height anomaly and anticyclonic circulation in the south of Lake Baikal tend to result in downward motion and high temperature in northern China. The linkage between winter–spring North Atlantic SST and high temperature can be used to facilitate seasonal prediction of extreme high temperature in China.