宁波市位于东海之滨，北濒杭州湾，南临三门湾，地处长江三角洲的东南角。全市地势为西南高、东北低，总面积9344.5平方公里，其中山地面积4990平方公里，占53.6%，平原面积3869平方公里，占46.4%，水域面积486平方公里，占5.2%。主要河流有汇合于市区的甬江、奉化江和余姚江，主河道全长220公里。

宁波市属亚热带季风性气候，由于受自然地带季风环流和地形地貌的综合影响，形成以大陆性为主体且有海洋性特色的季风湿润气候。冬夏季风交替明显，气候温和湿润，四季分明，雨量充沛，但灾害性天气频繁，具有农业气候资源丰富，气候类型多样的特点。

全市年平均气温16.2--16.5℃，最冷月在1月，月平均气温4.3--5.8℃,最热月在7--8月，月平均气温26.8--28.3℃，全市年平均降水量1317--1719 毫米，各月分布不均匀。

宁波市气候四季分明，各季气候特征如下：

春季：春天是春暖花开的季节，风向由偏北转向偏南，平均气温以4月为例仅15℃左右，季内日照时数占全年的17%，太阳总辐射占全年的20%，雨量、雨日数相对较少，分别占全年的20%和22%。季内天气变化无常，时冷时热，常有阴雨天气出现。雷雨大风、冰雹、龙卷风等灾害性天气都有可能发生。

夏季：6月至9月是我市的夏季。初夏常经历黄梅天，7--9月受副热带高压或大陆高压控制，多晴热天气，只有受热带气旋或东风波等热带天气系统影响时才可能出现大的降水。季内日照时数占全年的42%，太阳总辐射占44%，降水占全年的50%左右，雨日数占全年的35%，超过50天。夏季是灾害性天气最频繁的季节，主要有气旋、暴雨、洪涝、高温和干旱。

秋季：秋季是我市的过渡季节，气候相对凉爽，有时也会出现“秋老虎”。风向由偏南转向偏北，平均气温以10月为例18.5℃左右，季内日照时数占全年的16%，太阳总辐射占14%，雨量雨日占11%和13%，是一年中最少的季节。主要灾害是秋季低温连阴雨。

冬季：宁波的冬季较长，约有120天。季内盛行偏北风，日照时数占全年的26%，太阳总辐射占23%，降水量仅占20%，但雨日数却不少，有近50天，占全年的30%。常见气象灾害有大雪、寒潮大风和低温冷害。

----以上内容摘录于《宁波气象志》和《宁波市农业气候资源与区划》。

Situated in the southeastern Yangzi Delta region, Ningbo is close to the East China Sea, on the verge of the Hangzhou Bay to the north and the Sanmen Bay to the south. Topographic feature across the whole city tends to descend from the southwestern to northeastern. The city covers a total of 9344.5 square km with mountainous areas taking 4990 squre km(a percentage of 53.6), plains 3869 square km(46.4%) and water bodies 486 square km(5.2%). Main rivers within Ningbo include Yongjiang river, Fenghuajiang river and Yuyaojiang river, three of which meet downtown together. The main river course is about 220 km long.

Ningbo has a semitropical monsoon climate. Influenced by monsoon flows and local topography, climate here is both continental and marine with the former playing a greater role. Winter and summer monsoons display one after another year by year resulting in apparent seasonal climate changes of the city. Generally speaking, Ningbo has a mild climate, aboundant precipitations and plentiful agricultural resources, however she suffers frenquent natural disasters as well.

Normal annual temperatures across the whole city range from 16.2 to 16.5 degrees Celsius. The coldest month is January with normal monthly temperatures 4.3 to 5.8 degrees. As for the hottest, July and August are the top two months with normal temperatures 26.8 to 28.3 degrees. Normal annual precipitations range from 1317 to 1719 mm, and monthly rainfalls fluctuate significantly.

Ningbo has four greatly different seasons as below:

Springs: With flowers blooming and everything awaking, springs of Ningbo are fascinating. Wind directions change slowly from north to south, but normal temperatures are still a bit low(e.g., in April only about 15 degrees Celsius). Spring contributes 17% of annual sunshine hours, 20% of sun radiations, 20% of annual rainfalls and 22% of annual rainy days in a year. Weather in springs can be drastically changeful with temperatures climbing up amazingly now and dropping down surprisely then, and long-lasting drizzly days can be possibly experienced. Disastrous weather conditions such as thunderstorms, hails, tornadoes may take place in springs.

Summers: Ningbo experiences 4-month summer every year from June to September. Huangmei(also called Meiyu) periods usually set in at the beginning of summers. From July to September under the control of subtropical high or continental high, clear skies and very high temperatures often be received, only when tropical cyclones or easterly waves influence the city, can we see apparent rainfalls in the duration. Summer contributes 42% of annual sunshine hours, 44% of sun radiations, 50% of annual rainfalls and 35% of annual rainy days in a year, all of which are much greater than in spring. Ningbo suffers from disasters most frequently in summers, including tropical cyclones, heavy rainfalls, floods, broiling heatwaves and droughts.

Autumns: As transitional seasons, autumns are relativly cool with occasional old wives' summers. In autumns, wind directions change gradually from south to north, temperatures are comfortable leveling at about 18.5 degrees. Autumn contributes the least percentages in a year in sunshine hours, sun radiations, rainfalls and rainy days. Disastrous weather conditions are fewer, and main disasters are long-lasting rainy days accompanied by low temperatures.

Winters: Ningbo has to put up with long-retaining winters which almost last 120 days. Prevailing north winds result in cold as well as dry winters to the city. Winter contributes 26% of sunshine hours, 23% of sun radiations, 20% of annual rainfalls and 30% of annual rainy days in a year. The most frequent disaters in winters are snowstorms, coldwaves and chilliness.