Shanghai Temperature Market Guide

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (ZSPD) serves as a primary weather observation station for Shanghai. Located about 30 kilometers east of the city center on the coast, the airport sits at just 13 feet (4 meters) elevation.

Pudong's coastal position provides some maritime moderation compared to inland Shanghai. Temperature observations follow China Meteorological Administration (CMA) standards.

Shanghai's position on China's central coast places it in the path of the East Asian monsoon system, which dominates the seasonal climate cycle.

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cold, damp winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons strongly influenced by the monsoon.

Summer (June-August) brings highs of 32-35°C (90-95°F) with oppressive humidity. The Meiyu (plum rain) season in June brings extended cloudy, wet periods. Winter highs average 8-10°C (46-50°F) with raw, penetrating cold.

Shanghai rarely sees snow, but the damp winter cold can feel colder than the numbers suggest. Heat waves in summer routinely push temperatures above 38°C.

Winter (December - February): Cold and damp with highs 7-10°C (45-50°F). Siberian cold waves bring coldest temperatures. Occasional freezing rain.

Spring (March - May): Highly variable as winter yields. Rapid warming but frequent reversals. Pleasant May conditions.

Summer (June - August): Hot and humid with highs 32-36°C (90-97°F). Meiyu rains in June. Heat waves common in July-August. Typhoon season.

Autumn (September - November): Gradually cooling. Typhoon risk continues into October. Pleasant October weather common.

The Meiyu (plum rain) season in June creates persistent cloud cover and rain that suppresses temperatures. Once Meiyu ends (usually late June-early July), extreme heat often follows quickly.

Summer heat waves can be intense - temperatures above 40°C have been recorded. Track the position of the subtropical high pressure system which controls heat wave development.

Typhoons affect Shanghai from July through October. Even systems tracking well offshore can bring dramatic weather changes.

Winter cold waves from Siberia can drop temperatures 15°C or more below normal. The damp cold makes conditions feel harsher than temperatures suggest.

China Meteorological Administration provides forecasts, though English-language access may be limited. European and GFS models perform well for Shanghai.

Meiyu Timing: The onset, intensity, and end of the plum rain season significantly impact June-July temperatures.

Heat Wave Intensity: Summer heat waves can exceed 40°C - forecasting the magnitude of extremes is challenging.

Typhoon Tracks: Typhoon positions relative to Shanghai create large forecast uncertainty in summer and autumn.

Urban Heat Island: The massive urban area creates significant temperature differences across the metropolitan region.

Record High: 40.9°C (105.6°F) recorded in July 2013.

Record Low: -12.1°C (10.2°F) recorded in January 1893.

Historical Note: Shanghai has experienced significant urban warming over the past century. Heat waves have become more frequent and intense in recent decades.