Previous　studies　have　reported　precipitation　deficits　related　to　temperature　extremes.　However,　how　and　to　what　extent　precipitation　deficits　affect　surface　air　temperatures　is　still　poorly　understood.　In　this　study,　the　relationship　between　precipitation　deficits　and　surface　temperatures　was　examined　in　China　from　1960　to　2012　based　on　monthly　temperature　and　precipitation　records　from　565　stations.　Significant　negative　correlations　were　identified　in　each　season,　with　the　strongest　relationships　in　the　summer,　indicating　that　higher　temperatures　usually　accompanied　water-deficient　conditions　and　lower　temperatures　usually　accompanied　wet　conditions.　The　examination　of　the　correlations　based　on　30year　moving　windows　suggested　that　the　interaction　between　the　two　variables　has　declined　over　the　past　three　decades.　Further　investigation　indicated　a　higher　impact　of　extreme　dry　conditions　on　temperature　than　that　of　extreme　wet　conditions.　In　addition,　a　new　simple　index　(Dry　Temperature　Index,　DTI)　was　developed　and　used　to　quantitatively　describe　the　relationship　between　water　deficits　and　air　temperature　variations.　We　tested　and　compared　the　DTI　in　the　coldest　month　(January)　and　the　hottest　month　(July)　of　the　year,　station　by　station.　In　both　months,　the　number　of　stations　with　a　DT(high)I50%　was　greater　than　those　with　a　DThighI＜50%,　indicating　that　a　greater　proportion　of　higher　temperatures　occurred　during　dry　conditions.　Based　on　the　results,　we　conclude　that　water　deficits　in　China　are　usually　correlated　to　high　temperatures　but　not　to　low　temperatures.