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Shanghai in January: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Shanghai in January and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Shanghai on Avionero:
January

Weather in Shanghai in January 2025

Good Weather
Chill
☀️
Sunny
Weather for Shanghai in January is typically good with an average maximum temperature of +46°F during the day, and approximately 11 sunny days monthly. Typically, there are about 10 rainy days with the total average precipitation that falls in January around 61 mm. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • January is usually the coldest month of the year in Shanghai;

Average weather

☀️
+46°F
Avg. max. temperature
+18°F
Min.
+75°F
Max.
61 mm
Total precipitation
72%
Avg. humidity
2 m/s
Avg. wind
11 ☀️
Sunny Days
9 ⛅️
Cloudy
10 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Shanghai has good weather in January.

Average temperature in Shanghai in January

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Shanghai for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in January is +50°F with a maximum of +66°F and a minimum of +23°F.

The average maximum temperature goes up 38% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +48°F to +64°F.

Is Shanghai warm or cold in January?

Shanghai is typically chill in January.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +52°F to +46°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +39°F to +36°F.

Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.

January is the coldest month in Shanghai, here is the comparison with other months:

Climate in Shanghai in January

Shanghai weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Avg. temperature
+52°F+46°F+50°F
Min. temperature
+19°F+18°F+14°F
Max. temperature
+73°F+75°F+79°F
Rainfall
37 mm61 mm66 mm
Wind
2 m/s2 m/s3 m/s
Humidity
70%72%72%
Air pressure
1025 HPa1025 HPa1023 HPa
Sunny days
15118
Cloudy days
999
Rainy days
71010
Snowy days
011

January weather is still as good as in December. It’s getting colder in January. From +52°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +46°F. Prepare for more rain. Average rainfall goes from 37 mm to 61 mm. Humidity rises from 70% to 72%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 2 m/s. The days becoming less sunny, going from 15 sunny days in December to 11 in January.

Next month (February) brings a further decline in the weather.

Wind

Wind speed in Shanghai in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 3 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Shanghai is gradually increasing during January, going from 2 m/s to 2 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Shanghai based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 264 mm, with a 29% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 67 mm, which is considered heavy rain. On average, there are about 9 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Shanghai wettest month is June, where a typical day has a 57% chance of precipitation and 262 mm of rainfall per day. December, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 23% chance of precipitation and 37 mm of rainfall per day.

Snow

Amount of snow in mm during January in Shanghai based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in January is about 2 mm, with a 3% chance of snow on a typical day.

January is one of the snowiest months in Shanghai.

Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:

How was the weather last January in Shanghai?

This is the weather in Shanghai in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+49°F
2 January
☀️
+48°F
3 January
☀️
+49°F
4 January
☀️
+52°F
5 January
☀️
+56°F
6 January
☀️
+59°F
7 January
☀️
+59°F
8 January
☀️
+64°F
9 January
☁️
+62°F
10 January
☀️
+54°F
11 January
☁️
+61°F
12 January
🌧️
+67°F
13 January
🌧️
+64°F
14 January
🌧️
+52°F
15 January
🌨️
+33°F
16 January
☀️
+38°F
17 January
☀️
+44°F
18 January
☀️
+46°F
19 January
☀️
+50°F
20 January
☀️
+49°F
21 January
☀️
+51°F
22 January
🌧️
+49°F
23 January
🌧️
+46°F
24 January
☀️
+34°F
25 January
☀️
+37°F
26 January
☀️
+48°F
27 January
☀️
+40°F
28 January
☀️
+43°F
29 January
☀️
+51°F
30 January
☀️
+55°F
31 January
☀️
+65°F
In January 2023 Shanghai had 23 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +50°F, with an absolute maximum of +66°F and a minimum of +34°F. The average humidity was 58%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 21%. The average wind speed was 3 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Shanghai climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Shanghai in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1980 (+65°F) and the highest in 2016 (+72°F). The driest year was 2003 with only 716 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 3129 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Shanghai in January:

Is January a good time to visit Shanghai?

January is a really good time to go to Shanghai. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Shanghai.

Can you sunbathe in Shanghai in January?

Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.

Is Shanghai rainy in January?

Shanghai is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Shanghai in January?

The amount of sunny days in Shanghai during January varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.

Other cities in China

Check out the weather for other cities in China.

Monthly weather in Shanghai

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Shanghai, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.