Shanghai, China Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Shanghai
Shanghai runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 23°C separates the average August from the average January. Afternoons reach 90°F (32°C) at the peak of summer and 49°F (9°C) at the depth of winter, with 138 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 90°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 49°F (9°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 104°F (40°C) high · 16°F (-9°C) low
- Wettest month: June (17 rainy days) · Sunniest: August (10.1 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 23°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 8°C
- Snow: about 1 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
- Average humidity: 78%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 49°F (9°C) by day, 35°F (2°C) at night. August is the warm end of the year, averaging 90°F (32°C) by day and 78°F (26°C) overnight. Between the average August and the average January lie 23°C, a wider spread than roughly 75% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
Precipitation concentrates in June - 10.6 inches (269 mm) on 17 days - and thins out by December. Sunshine averages 7.3 hours a day over the year - duller than all but 4% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, peaking in August at 10.1 hours. Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is April through May. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 104°F (40°C) and the lowest daily minimum 16°F (-9°C).
How Shanghai compares
- Shanghai sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 63°F (17°C) as an annual average, 58.1 inches (1477 mm) of precipitation and 7.3 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 35° | 8 | 2.7 in | 5.8 h/day | 75% |
| February | 51° | 37° | 10 | 2.7 in | 5.9 h/day | 75% |
| March | 60° | 44° | 11 | 3.2 in | 7.0 h/day | 76% |
| April | 69° | 53° | 10 | 4.0 in | 7.6 h/day | 76% |
| May | 77° | 62° | 11 | 5.3 in | 7.9 h/day | 77% |
| June | 82° | 70° | 17 | 10.6 in | 6.7 h/day | 83% |
| July | 89° | 78° | 18 | 9.0 in | 9.0 h/day | 83% |
| August | 90° | 78° | 14 | 5.7 in | 10.1 h/day | 80% |
| September | 82° | 71° | 13 | 7.0 in | 7.9 h/day | 81% |
| October | 73° | 61° | 8 | 3.1 in | 7.0 h/day | 76% |
| November | 64° | 51° | 9 | 3.1 in | 6.1 h/day | 77% |
| December | 52° | 38° | 7 | 1.8 in | 6.4 h/day | 73% |
Shanghai month by month
Shanghai weather in January
January brings highs around 49°F (9°C), lows near 35°F (2°C), about 8 wet days - typically the coldest month of the year in Shanghai.
Shanghai weather in February
February brings highs around 51°F (11°C), lows near 37°F (3°C), about 10 wet days.
Shanghai weather in March
March brings highs around 60°F (16°C), lows near 44°F (7°C), about 11 wet days.
Shanghai weather in April
April brings highs around 69°F (20°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 10 wet days.
Shanghai weather in May
May brings highs around 77°F (25°C), lows near 62°F (16°C), about 11 wet days.
Shanghai weather in June
June brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 70°F (21°C), about 17 wet days - typically the wettest month of the year in Shanghai.
Shanghai weather in July
July brings highs around 89°F (32°C), lows near 78°F (25°C), about 18 wet days.
Shanghai weather in August
August brings highs around 90°F (32°C), lows near 78°F (26°C), about 14 wet days - typically the hottest month and the sunniest month of the year in Shanghai.
Shanghai weather in September
September brings highs around 82°F (28°C), lows near 71°F (22°C), about 13 wet days.
Shanghai weather in October
October brings highs around 73°F (23°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 8 wet days.
Shanghai weather in November
November brings highs around 64°F (18°C), lows near 51°F (10°C), about 9 wet days.
Shanghai weather in December
December brings highs around 52°F (11°C), lows near 38°F (4°C), about 7 wet days - typically the driest month of the year in Shanghai.
Seasons in Shanghai
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Shanghai brings comfortable warmth: 68°F (20°C) by day, 53°F (12°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Shanghai is hot, with daytime highs averaging 87°F (30°C) and nights around 75°F (24°C); rain falls on around 50 of the 90 days. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Shanghai brings comfortable warmth: 73°F (23°C) by day, 61°F (16°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Shanghai is brisk and cold, with daytime highs averaging 51°F (10°C) and nights around 37°F (3°C); expect showers on roughly 25 days across the season.
Climate questions, answered
How cold does Shanghai get in winter?
Is Shanghai a wet city?
How many rainy days does Shanghai get in a year?
How sunny is Shanghai?
Best time to visit Shanghai
Aim for March to May and October to November if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 69°F (20°C) against roughly 10 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in March.
Pack for Shanghai with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. August nights average 78°F (26°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Shanghai temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.