Abstract:The main characteristics of the general atmospheric circulation in December 2016 are as follows： There were two polar vortex centers in the Northern Hemisphere with weaker pressure in the center than normal year. The circulation presented the trough ridge trough pattern in the middle high latitudes of Eurasia. The south branch acted weakly, located near 90°E essentially. The subtropical high was stronger than normal years. The monthly mean precipitation was 11.5 mm, 9.5% more than normal. Besides, the monthly mean temperature was -0.7℃, 2.5℃ higher than normal （-3.2℃）， which is the maximum value for the corresponding periods since 1961. During this month, two cold air processes, two major rainfall processes and three large scale fog haze weather processes occurred, of which the fog haze event from 16 to 21 December was recorded as the most extensive, the longest lasting and the most severe fog haze weather process in 2016.