Abstract: In the summer of 2006, severe heat wave and drought hit Chongqing municipality and Sichuan Province, causing dramatic economic losses and environmental damages. The comprehensive effect of the weather-related disturbances and global warming may be the reasons for the occurrence of the warm extremes in Chongqing and Sichuan in the summer of 2006, but the random weather-related disturbances contribute most to the local warm extremes in last summer. It is indicated that less cold air activities, northward locations of subtropical high ridgeline, and less snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau in the winter and spring of 2005/2006 are the main three direct causes for the extremely hot and dry weather over the above-mentioned areas in the summer of 2006.

Key words: heat wave, drought, global warming, weather disturbance, Sichuan Province, Chongqing Municipality