Climate in Shanghai — Annual Weather Overview
Shanghai has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is August (average high 32.5°C) and the coolest is January (9.9°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 22.6°C swing between August highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 1489mm. July is the wettest month at 329.8mm, while December averages just 22.7mm. Average daily sunshine is 7.3 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 20.7°C, 324mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 30.9°C, 703mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 23.1°C, 299mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 10.7°C, 163mm rain.
Shanghai — Monthly Temperatures
Shanghai — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Shanghai stays reasonable all year.
Shanghai weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.9°C | 1.8°C | 77.6mm | 5.8h | 8 | 10/10 |
| February | 11.5°C | 3.4°C | 62.3mm | 5.8h | 9 | 10/10 |
| March | 16.3°C | 7.6°C | 113.5mm | 6.5h | 12 | 9/10 |
| April | 20.3°C | 11.0°C | 92.8mm | 8.0h | 9 | 10/10 |
| May | 25.5°C | 16.6°C | 117.3mm | 7.8h | 11 | 9/10 |
| June | 28.7°C | 21.5°C | 221.6mm | 6.8h | 17 | 8/10 |
| July | 31.6°C | 25.3°C | 329.8mm | 8.2h | 20 | 8/10 |
| August | 32.5°C | 25.7°C | 152.0mm | 10.0h | 13 | 9/10 |
| September | 27.9°C | 21.3°C | 188.0mm | 8.0h | 12 | 9/10 |
| October | 22.8°C | 15.5°C | 45.9mm | 7.5h | 6 | 10/10 |
| November | 18.5°C | 10.4°C | 65.4mm | 7.0h | 8 | 10/10 |
| December | 10.7°C | 2.2°C | 22.7mm | 6.8h | 4 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Shanghai and the Shanghai rainy season guide. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Shanghai have?
Shanghai has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from 9.9°C in January to 32.5°C in August.
What is the hottest month in Shanghai?
August is the hottest month in Shanghai, with average highs of 32.5°C and lows of 25.7°C.
What is the coldest month in Shanghai?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 9.9°C and lows of 1.8°C.
What is the wettest month in Shanghai?
July is the wettest month, averaging 329.8mm of rainfall over around 20 rainy days.
When is rainy season in Shanghai?
Rainy season in Shanghai runs March and May to September, when rainfall is significantly higher than the rest of the year. Full rainy season guide →
How much rain does Shanghai get per year?
Shanghai receives around 1489mm of rain per year. The driest month is December (22.7mm).
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
The best time to visit Shanghai is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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For the packing side of things, our sister site has a ready-made checklist: Shanghai packing list at 247PackingList. For currency, language and country facts see the China guide at 247CountryInfo.
Trip essentials for Shanghai
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.