Avg High
Shanghai in March
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
12h
What to expect
Shanghai is in early spring during March, a shoulder-season stretch where conditions can nudge warmer or cooler week to week. It usually feels cool and fresh, and a gentle drop-off once the sun goes down. Conditions tend to feel steady, which makes planning simple. You get a comfortable daylight window for day trips and sightseeing.
March in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Shanghai.
Hottest (avg)
#9 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#7 / 12
Daylight Hours
#7 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#1 / 12
Highest UV
#7 / 12
Most Humid
#9 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 12 h
- UV index (max)
- 7
- Typical sun hours
- 06:02 - 18:01
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 13 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 65%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 76%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for March. Typical high 13.1°C and low 7.0°C.
Typical disruptions in March
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in March.
Cold High impact
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 71% of days (21.9 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
21.9 days / month
~71% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 21.9 days / month
- Probability ~71% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~22 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 20% of days (6.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.2 days / month
~20% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.2 days / month
- Probability ~20% of days
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 19% of days (5.9 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.9 days / month
~19% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.9 days / month
- Probability ~19% of days
- Intensity Up to ~27mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~73km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~73km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 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 10% of days (3.0 days/month) in March. 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 ~29mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.2 days/month in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.2 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.2 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (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.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 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 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~96% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Moderate
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.0 days / month
~3% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.0 days / month
- Probability ~3% of days
- Intensity Up to ~0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 62% of days (19.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.2 days / month
~62% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.2 days / month
- Probability ~62% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~19 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 48% of days (14.7 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.7 days / month
~48% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.7 days / month
- Probability ~48% of days
- Intensity Up to ~19mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~15 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 44% of days (13.6 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.6 days / month
~44% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.6 days / month
- Probability ~44% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 38% of days (11.8 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.8 days / month
~38% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.8 days / month
- Probability ~38% of days
- Intensity Up to ~92% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~12 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 38% of days (11.8 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.8 days / month
~38% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.8 days / month
- Probability ~38% of days
- Intensity Up to ~58km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~12 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 37% of days (11.6 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.6 days / month
~37% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.6 days / month
- Probability ~37% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold Minor
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 36% of days (11.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.2 days / month
~36% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.2 days / month
- Probability ~36% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~11 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 27% of days (8.5 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.5 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.5 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 27% of days (8.5 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.5 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.5 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold Minor
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 17% of days (5.2 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.2 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.2 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~5 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
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 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% 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 ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 0.6 days/month in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in March. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29km/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.
Snow Minor
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in March. 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 ~2.3mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold Minor
Wind chill risk Measures: Wind chill risk days. Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in March. 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 ~-1°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 March a good time to visit Shanghai?
Typical March days in Shanghai reach highs of 14°C (57°F) with nights around 6°C (43°F). It usually feels cool by day and cold after dark. Overall, March sits in the middle of the Shanghai climate range.
What are temperatures like in March?
In March, you can usually expect highs of 14°C (57°F) and lows near 6°C (43°F). That means cool days and cold nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in March?
Rainfall in March averages 88 mm (3.5 in) across roughly 13 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in March?
You can expect about 12 hours of daylight in March. Sunrise is typically around 06:02 and sunset near 18:01. Daylight is fairly typical, with enough time for sightseeing.
How strong is the sun in March?
UV levels are often high (around 7). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in March?
In March, average wind speeds are around 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 50 km/h (31 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.