Wangcang enjoys a humid monsoon climate of central subtropical zone with four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, rich sunshine and heat resources, a long frost-free period, and obvious mountain climate due to special geography and landform.
I. Temperature:
The temperature in the northern mountain area is usually 3-4°C lower than that of the south in Wangcang due to the influences of altitude and geographic location. January with the average temperature of 6.1°C is the coldest month of the year and July with the average temperature of 27.3°C is the hottest month of the year, with the amplitude of monthly temperature variation of 21.0°C. The temperature rises rapidly in spring and falls rapidly in autumn while it is relatively stable in the Midsummer. The accumulated temperature over years is 5,922.9°C for daily average temperature ≥0°C, 5,707.6°C for ≥5°C (February 7 - December 23), 5,083.1°C for ≥10°C (March 18 - November 18), and 3,158.4°C for ≥20°C. The temperature decreases from the south to the north and the valley to the mountain top.
II. Precipitation:
The average annual precipitation is 1,203.8mm and the amplitude of annual rainfall variation is up to 1,362.6mm; the rainfall is more than 1,000mm in 80% of years; the percentages of rainfall in spring, summer, autumn and winter in the annual rainfall are 17.8%, 51.9%, 27.9% and 2.4% respectively. The annual average precipitation in the areas in west of Gucheng - Zhengyuan - Shangwu Line is less than 1,000mm and that in the areas in east of Mengzi - Yingcui - Jiachuan Line is more than 1,100mm.
III. Wind and Sunshine:
1. The seasonal variation of wind force and wind direction is obvious; the annual average wind speed is 1.2 m/s; the average wind speed in spring is 3.5 m/s; and the instantaneous maximum wind force is up to Grade 10. The windy season lasts from March to May with frequent clod air activities and it is often affected by cold wave and strong wind; the wind force is generally Grade 3-4, and the maximum instantaneous wind speed is up to Grade 12. The wind is generally small in summer except gales accompanying thunderstorms. Throughout the year, it is dominated by northerly winds, followed by southerly winds and northwest winds, and then westerly winds.
2. The average sunshine hours over the years is 1,355.3h; the year-round sunshine rate is 30%; the sunshine hours from April to September accounts for 64.2% of total sunshine hours in the year; the averaged solar radiation over the years is 91.6 kCal/cm2.
IV. Meteorological Disasters:
1. Drought: the annual frequency of drought in spring is 40% while that in summer is 81%, and that during hot summer days is 62%.
2. Rainstorm: the frequencies of rainstorm, heavy rainstorm and torrential rainstorm are 95%, 61.9% and 9% respectively.
3. Gales and hail are the meteorological disasters that may occur around Wangcang County, mostly in Yingcui, Guohua, Wuquan, Mumen, Hualong, Jiulong, etc.
4. Thunderstorm: thunderstorm disaster is one of the 10 most serious natural disasters announced in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The average annual thunderstorm days in Wangcang County are 35 days and the maximum annual thunderstorms days are 45 days.