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Shanghai Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide

Shanghai has a subtropical maritime monsoon climate. The city sees a lot of rain and has a characteristically hot and wet summer. Winter can be fairly cold with frequent frosts during the night. March until May are definitely the best months to visit. Rain is spread out evenly throughout the year with most rain falling in summer (June-September).

Average maximum day and minimum night temperature

In Shanghai, temperatures differ significantly between summer and winter months. On average, daytime temperatures range from a very warm 33°C in July to a chilly 9°C in January.

Nighttime temperatures can drop, with average lows reaching 3°C in January. Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Precipitation and rainy days

Shanghai experiences significant rain/snowfall throughout the year, averaging 1347 mm of precipitation annually. The seasons in Shanghai, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, June, receives heavy rainfall, with an average of 279 mm of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 15 rainy days.

In contrast, the driest month, December, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 46 mm over 10 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year. For more details, please visit our Shanghai Precipitation page.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow

Sunshine over the year

In Shanghai, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 6.4 hours in July. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. January sees a soft sun for only 3.7 hours per average day. Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

Average water temperature

The mean water temperature over the year ranges from 8°C in February to 27°C in August.

Water temperature over the year

Forecast for Shanghai

Sat   Dec 21
8°C | 1°C
NW 5 m/s
clear and no rain

clear and no rain

Sun   Dec 22
8°C | 1°C
N 4 m/s
overcast and no rain

overcast and no rain

Mon   Dec 23
11°C | 2°C
NE 3 m/s
partly cloudy and no rain

partly cloudy and no rain

The best time of year to visit Shanghai in China

During the months of April, May and October you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 26°C.

Other facts from our historical weather data:
  • Which months have the greatest rainfall in Shanghai?
    Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in June, July and August.
  • Which is the warmest month in Shanghai?
    July has an average maximum temperature of 33°C and is the warmest month of the year.
  • Which is the coldest month in Shanghai?
    The coldest month is January with an average maximum temperature of 9°C.
  • Which is the wettest month in Shanghai?
    June tops the wettest month list with 279 mm of rainfall.
  • Which is the driest month in Shanghai?
    December is the driest month with 46 mm of precipitation.
  • Which is the sunniest month in Shanghai?
    July is the sunniest month with an average of 191 hours of sunshine.

  • No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.