Avg High
Shanghai in December
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
10h
What to expect
December in Shanghai is early winter, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The overall feel is cool without being harsh, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing. The daylight window is balanced for full days without endless late evenings.
December in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Shanghai.
Hottest (avg)
#10 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#12 / 12
Daylight Hours
#12 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#9 / 12
Highest UV
#12 / 12
Most Humid
#12 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 10.2 h
- UV index (max)
- 4
- Typical sun hours
- 06:44 - 16:54
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 8 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 50%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 73%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for December. Typical high 10.6°C and low 3.0°C.
Typical disruptions in December
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in December.
Cold High impact
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 84% of days (26.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
26.0 days / month
~84% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 26.0 days / month
- Probability ~84% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~26 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold High impact
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 21% of days (6.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.4 days / month
~21% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.4 days / month
- Probability ~21% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~6 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Moderate
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold Moderate
Hard freeze nights Measures: Hard freeze nights (min <=-2C). Observed about 10% of days (3.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.0 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.0 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-2°C (P95)
Hard freeze conditions are possible on ~3 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold Moderate
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 1.8 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.8 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.8 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~2 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.9 days/month in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~74km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~59km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Moderate
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.5 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.5 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Visibility Moderate
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 63% of days (19.6 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.6 days / month
~63% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.6 days / month
- Probability ~63% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~20 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 42% of days (13.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.0 days / month
~42% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.0 days / month
- Probability ~42% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~13 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 40% of days (12.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
12.3 days / month
~40% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 12.3 days / month
- Probability ~40% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~12 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 30% of days (9.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.4 days / month
~30% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.4 days / month
- Probability ~30% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~9 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 29% of days (9.0 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
9.0 days / month
~29% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 9.0 days / month
- Probability ~29% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 28% of days (8.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.7 days / month
~28% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.7 days / month
- Probability ~28% of days
- Intensity Up to ~16mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~9 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 27% of days (8.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.2 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.2 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~57km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~8 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 23% of days (7.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.3 days / month
~23% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.3 days / month
- Probability ~23% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~7 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 19% of days (5.7 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.7 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.7 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 17% of days (5.4 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.4 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.4 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Snow Minor
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~2.9mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~28km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cold Minor
Wind chill risk Measures: Wind chill risk days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in December. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-4°C (P95)
Wind chill risk is possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Shanghai?
Typical December days in Shanghai reach highs of 11°C (52°F) with nights around 4°C (39°F). It usually feels cool by day and cold after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.
What are temperatures like in December?
Daytime temperatures in December typically peak near 11°C (52°F), while nights drop to around 4°C (39°F). Expect cool afternoons and cold evenings.
How much does it rain in December?
Rainfall in December averages 44 mm (1.7 in) across roughly 8 days. Overall it is a moderately wet time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in December?
You can expect about 10 hours of daylight in December. Sunrise is typically around 06:44 and sunset near 16:54. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in December?
UV levels are moderate (around 4); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in December?
In December, average wind speeds are around 13 km/h (8 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 47 km/h (29 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.