Shanghai · WinterMonth summary
Shanghai weather in December
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
39°F – 52°F
🌧 Rainy days
20% of days
☀️ Sunshine
8.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
6.1/10
📅 📅 Best month
September (7.7/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Shanghai in December?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you prefer museums and gastronomy — it's cool at 11°F.
❌ No if: you're looking for beach weather — it's not the right season.
Our take: Not the best window: 20% rain risk and 8.7h of sunshine. September is much safer.
By trip type
Shanghai in December by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in December
In December, Shanghai sees 11°F during the day with 8.7h of sunshine per day. Rain risk remains low (20% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. September (7.7/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °F | Max °F | Rain % | Precip in | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌫️ January | 36°F | 48°F | 26% | 0.1in | 7.5h | 4.7/10 |
| 🌫️ February | 37°F | 50°F | 31% | 0.1in | 7.9h | 4.8/10 |
| ⛅ March | 45°F | 59°F | 33% | 0.1in | 8.9h | 6.7/10 |
| 🌤️ April | 54°F | 68°F | 32% | 0.1in | 9.6h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ May | 61°F | 77°F | 37% | 0.2in | 9.7h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 70°F | 82°F | 57% | 0.3in | 7.7h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 79°F | 90°F | 59% | 0.3in | 11.0h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 79°F | 90°F | 48% | 0.2in | 12.0h | 7.3/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 72°F | 82°F | 48% | 0.2in | 10.0h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ October | 61°F | 72°F | 25% | 0.1in | 8.6h | 7.6/10 |
| 🌤️ November | 50°F | 64°F | 28% | 0.1in | 8.0h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌫️ December | 39°F | 52°F | 20% | 0.1in | 8.7h | 6.1/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In December, Shanghai averages 52°F, 20% rainy days and 8.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 6.1/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
December vs September (best month)
The best month is September (score 7.7/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +17°F
- 🌧 Rainy days : +28%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +1.3h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Shanghai in December
Is December a good time to visit Shanghai?
December is an acceptable time for Shanghai (score 6.1/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider September (7.7/10) if possible.
What's the weather like in Shanghai in December?
It's cool with 52°F daytime and 39°F at night. 8.7h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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