In order to explore the relationship between natural pasture growth and meteorological conditions under the background of global warming in the ecological function area of northern shore of the Qinghai Lake, the influence of hydrothermal conditions on returning green date, growth height and yield of pasture were analyzed systematically based on meteorological and pasture observation data from 1997 to 2018. The results are as follows: (1) The influence of temperature on returning green date of pasture was significant in northern shore of the Qinghai Lake. The returning green date of pasture had significantly positive correlation with the first day of temperature higher than 0 ℃ and 3 ℃, the correlation coefficients were 0.590 and 0.567, respectively. (2) The growth rate of pasture had significant difference at different stages of growth, and the growth of pasture was the most vigorous from late June to mid-August. (3) The yield of pasture presented a significant ‘ladder’ variation characteristic in northern shore of the Qinghai Lake, and the average yield from 2010 to 2018 was 88% higher than that from 1997 to 2009. (4) The ≥0 ℃ accumulative temperature and precipitation during the growth of pasture presented an increasing trend in northern shore of the Qinghai Lake from 1997 to 2018, while the sunshine duration decreased, the warm and humid change characteristics were obvious, and the accumulative temperature of ≥0 ℃ during the growth of pasture was the key factor for the formation of pasture yield.