ZHENGZHOU -- Average temperatures in Central China's Henan province in 2016 were the highest in 51 years, the local weather bureau said.

The average temperature in Henan this year was 15.7 Celsius degrees, up 0.9 degrees from the previous year and the highest since 1961, said Chen Huailiang, deputy director of Henan provincial weather bureau.

Temperatures in spring and summer were higher than previous years, Chen said. The average temperature in late July, at 30.2 Celsius degrees, was near a half-century record.

These extreme weather conditions are all strong signs of a warming climate, he said.