Monthly climate guide
Shanghai weather in May
May in Shanghai is typically warm, with average daytime highs around 26°C (78°F) and night-time lows near 17°C (62°F). The month usually brings about 114 mm of rain (wet) and is often cloudy. Daytime highs are 5°C warmer than April and 2°C cooler than June.
What stands out in May
- Just 160 km apart, but Shanghai runs about 2°C cooler than Hangzhou this month.
- In Shanghai, May is late spring.
- Humidity near 77% makes 26°C feel stickier than it sounds.
Avg high
26°C
78°F
Avg low
17°C
62°F
Rainfall
114 mm
wet
Humidity
77%
relative
Sky
71%
cloud · often cloudy
Shanghai weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C / 47°F | 1°C / 34°F | 65 mm | 79% | 65% |
| February | 10°C / 50°F | 2°C / 36°F | 77 mm | 80% | 66% |
| March | 15°C / 58°F | 6°C / 42°F | 90 mm | 79% | 64% |
| April | 21°C / 69°F | 11°C / 52°F | 97 mm | 77% | 63% |
| May | 26°C / 78°F | 17°C / 62°F | 114 mm | 77% | 71% |
| June | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 70°F | 242 mm | 82% | 82% |
| July | 32°C / 89°F | 26°C / 78°F | 154 mm | 82% | 71% |
| August | 32°C / 89°F | 26°C / 79°F | 186 mm | 80% | 62% |
| September | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 71°F | 166 mm | 78% | 64% |
| October | 23°C / 74°F | 16°C / 60°F | 95 mm | 77% | 58% |
| November | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 51°F | 78 mm | 79% | 59% |
| December | 11°C / 51°F | 3°C / 38°F | 56 mm | 77% | 55% |
What to pack for May
- T-shirts plus a light layer for the evening
- Comfortable trainers or sandals for long walks
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
- Quick-dry fabrics — it feels stickier than the temperature suggests
Is May a good time to visit Shanghai?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Shanghai →Other China cities in May
Cite or embed this data
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Shanghai weather in May. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/may
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/may">Shanghai weather in May</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/china/shanghai" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Shanghai weather in May"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/china/shanghai/may">Shanghai weather in May</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Shanghai in May: quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Shanghai?
May is one of the wetter months in Shanghai, with about 114 mm of rain. You can still go: pack a rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
How warm is Shanghai in May?
Average highs are about 26°C (78°F) and average lows about 17°C (62°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Shanghai in May?
Shanghai typically gets around 114 mm of rain in May — wet.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Shanghai (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.