Shanghai in October
What to expect
In Shanghai, October sits in mid-autumn, a shoulder-season month where the feel can shift as the season turns. Most days feel warm without being relentless, with evenings that ease back comfortably. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well. Daylight is moderate, so steady pacing works well.
October in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Shanghai.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 11.4 h
- UV index (max)
- 7
- Typical sun hours
- 05:57 - 17:22
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 8 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 53%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 76%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for October. Typical high 22.5°C and low 15.3°C.
Typical disruptions in October
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in October.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~46mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 10% of days (3.2 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.2 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.2 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~46mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 8% of days (2.4 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.4 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.4 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~37°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in October. 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 ~95% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (19 more)
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 6% of days (1.7 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.7 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.7 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~66mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.8 days/month in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.8 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.8 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~45mm (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.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in October. 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 ~90km/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.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in October. 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 ~97mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in October. 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 ~86km/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.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 45% of days (13.9 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.9 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.9 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 37% of days (11.3 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.3 days / month
~37% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.3 days / month
- Probability ~37% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~11 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 34% of days (10.4 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
10.4 days / month
~34% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 10.4 days / month
- Probability ~34% of days
- Intensity Up to ~92% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~10 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 27% of days (8.4 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.4 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.4 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 27% of days (8.3 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.3 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.3 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 24% of days (7.3 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
7.3 days / month
~24% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 7.3 days / month
- Probability ~24% of days
- Intensity Up to ~62km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~7 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 18% of days (5.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.6 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.6 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23h (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.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 18% of days (5.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.6 days / month
~18% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.6 days / month
- Probability ~18% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~6 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 15% of days (4.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.6 days / month
~15% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.6 days / month
- Probability ~15% 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.
Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in October. 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 ~23°C (P95)
Convective risk signal appears on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Warm nights Measures: Warm nights (min >=22C). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
~4% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability ~4% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24°C (P95)
Warm nights are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
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 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in October. 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 ~95 (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.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in October. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~35km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in October. 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 ~33°C (P95)
Hot days are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Frequently asked questions
Is October a good time to visit Shanghai?
Typical October days in Shanghai reach highs of 23°C (73°F) with nights around 16°C (61°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. Overall, October sits in the middle of the Shanghai climate range.
What are temperatures like in October?
In October, you can usually expect highs of 23°C (73°F) and lows near 16°C (61°F). That means warm days and mild nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in October?
Rainfall in October averages 64 mm (2.5 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 October?
You can expect about 11 hours of daylight in October. Sunrise is typically around 05:57 and sunset near 17:22. Daylight is fairly typical, with enough time for sightseeing.
How strong is the sun in October?
UV levels are often high (around 7). Regular sunscreen and a hat are recommended.
Is it windy in October?
In October, average wind speeds are around 12 km/h (7 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 46 km/h (29 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.