Precipitation in most parts of China was down more than 50 per cent from the average during the same period in past years, the bureau said in its thrice-monthly weather report.

Insufficient rainfall has reduced the wheat crop's ability to survive the winter in northern China and in parts of northwestern China, it said.

Soil moisture in China's winter wheat belt -- the southwestern part of Shandong province, central and western Henan province and sections of Shannxi province -- continued to fall in late December, the Economic Information Daily said.

The southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Hunan also suffered drought, the bureau said.

However, rainfall had eased drought in the Sichuan basin in late December, favouring growth of local wheat and rape, it said.

Temperatures in most parts of China were 2.0-5.0 degrees Celsius higher than the average in past years, it said.

Temperatures in winter wheat-growing regions in northern China and the eastern part of northwestern China were 3.0-6.0 degrees higher than the average, the newspaper said.