In this study, the effects of microwave radiation intensity, initial moisture content and thickness on the properties of temperature development in Siberian Elm wood samples during the microwave drying have been investigated using a tailor made microwave drying equipment. The results show that with the increase of microwave radiation intensity and a decrease in initial moisture content and thickness, both the temperature and its rate of increase in wood rise rapidly. In the microwave drying, the temperature development curve presented three stages of variation: a sharp increase in temperature − a constant temperature − a slow warm-up.