In　this　paper,　the　spatial-temporal　evolution　of　the　anode　temperature　in　the　vacuum　arc　during　the　formation　of　an　anode　spot　is　investigated　by　numerical　simulation　and　experiments.　A　transient　self-consistent　model　is　established　to　calculate　the　arc　parameters　and　the　anode　temperature.　The　simulations　predict　that　the　maximum　anode　temperature　always　occurs　after　the　current　peak.　Ion　density　and　atom　density　at　the　anode　side　increase　significantly　during　the　formation　of　the　anode　spot.　In　the　anode　spot　mode,　more　evaporated　anode　material　comes　into　the　arc　column,　leading　to　higher　plasma　temperature　around　the　spot.　The　anode　vapor　can　reduce　the　energy　flux　from　the　plasma　to　the　anode　center,　providing　more　uniform　anode　temperature　distribution　and　correspondingly　smoother　plasma　parameter　distributions　in　the　vicinity　of　the　anode　center.　In　addition,　a　higher　Cr　fraction　in　the　electrodes　can　result　in　a　higher　anode　temperature.　Near-infrared　spectroscopy　and　high-speed　camera　thermography　are　used　to　study　the　anode　temperature　experimentally　in　order　to　verify　the　simulation　results.　A　reasonable　agreement　was　found.