Abstract: Rossby waves are a kind of large-scale waves in the atmosphere and oceans on the rotating earth and their activity is closely related to weather and climate. This article reviews the progress achieved in the recent two decade in studies on Rossby waves, particularly on two families of Rossby waves——baroclinic Rossby waves and quasi-stationary planetary waves. The focuses of the review are: dynamics of baroclinic wave packets, effects of moist process on baroclinic waves, Northern Hemisphere storm track dynamics, baroclinic waves and prediction of high impact weather, mechanisms of quasi-stationary waves, horizontal propagation and dispersion of quasi-stationary waves, vertical propagation and dispersion of quasi-stationary waves, and three-dimensional propagation and dispersion of quasi-stationary waves.