Tibet, a high-altitude region in southwest China seen as sensitive to global warming, has been experiencing temperatures one to five degrees Celsius higher than normal since the beginning of the winter.

The average temperatures in the last ten days of December were three to five degrees Celsius higher than the same period in previous years, the Tibet Regional Meteorological Observatory said. 

The highest temperature on Dec. 26 hit 17.7 degrees Celsius, the second highest for the same period in half a century after the highest 17.8 degrees Celsius recorded in 1980, the observatory said.

 "Less rainfall, higher temperatures and dry and windy weather have featured the region's winter this year," said Ma Yanxian, a senior engineer at the observatory.

 The region's rainfall totals were also about half a normal year's, according to the observatory.