Shanghai weather in September

In September, Shanghai sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 106 mm of rain across 10.9 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 29°C in the first days to 25°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in September, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, September is Shanghai's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shanghai's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
22°
10th coldest
Rainfall
106 mm
10.9 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
5:43 AM – 5:54 PM
Cloud cover
60%
4th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
4.15 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Shanghai is provincial-level municipality in China.

Air quality
Very high
PM2.5 37.7 µg/m³ · 2018
Density
3,923/km²
people per km²
Founded
1292

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in September

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 29°C in the first days to 25°C by the end.

A typical September day in Shanghai reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, September runs about 4°C cooler than August and about 5°C warmer than October.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12925
22924
32924
42924
52924
62924
72924
82824
92823
102823
112823
122823
132823
142823
152722
162722
172722
182722
192722
202722
212721
222621
232621
242621
252621
262621
272620
282520
292520
302520

How September really feels in Shanghai

Once humidity and wind are folded in, September averages 5 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
5
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in September is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Shanghai weather by month

How September compares with the rest of the year at a glance. September is the 3rd-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / 638.40.510.21.5
Feb10° / 628.70.510.92.2
Mar14° / 9611.30.111.83.8
Apr19° / 12°10410.2012.75.9
May24° / 17°12710013.66.7
Jun27° / 22°27014.50145.4
Jul31° / 26°15713.9013.83.8
Aug31° / 26°15414.8013.13.9
Sep27° / 22°10610.9012.26.1
Oct23° / 17°616011.27.4
Nov17° / 11°567.4010.45.8
Dec11° / 456.70.3103.0

Cloud cover in September

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in September.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of September, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14456
24456
34456
44456
54654
64654
74555
84654
94654
104753
114852
124852
134852
144852
154852
164852
174951
184951
195050
205050
215050
225050
235050
245050
254951
265050
274951
285050
295050
305050

Chance of precipitation in September

Any precipitation

Shanghai gets around 106 mm of rain over 10.9 wet days in September. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 37% and peaks near 44% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
144
243
343
442
541
641
741
840
940
1040
1140
1239
1339
1439
1539
1638
1738
1837
1936
2035
2134
2233
2332
2432
2531
2630
2730
2829
2928
3028

Humidity in September

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of September feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, September lands in the muggy band about 31% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 73% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1005223241
2005233239
3016253336
4017263333
5017283331
6018293428
7019303426
80210303524
90211313522
100212313421
110313313419
120314323318
130415323217
140517323115
151518322914
161619332813
171721332612
181722332512
191823332311
202924332210
212102534209
222102634198
233112734187
243122833177
254132833166
264142932155
275162932154
285172931144
296182930133
307203028132

Wind in September

Winds average 13 km/h in September.

Across September, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in September

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min at the start of September to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 60 minutes over September. Sunrise moves from 5:34 AM to 5:52 AM, and sunset from 6:14 PM to 5:35 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.75:346:14
212.65:346:13
312.65:356:11
412.65:366:10
512.55:366:09
612.55:376:07
712.55:376:06
812.45:386:05
912.45:396:03
1012.45:396:02
1112.35:406:01
1212.35:405:59
1312.35:415:58
1412.35:425:57
1512.25:425:55
1612.25:435:54
1712.25:435:53
1812.15:445:51
1912.15:455:50
2012.15:455:49
2112.05:465:47
2212.05:475:46
2312.05:475:45
2411.95:485:43
2511.95:485:42
2611.95:495:41
2711.85:505:39
2811.85:505:38
2911.85:515:37
3011.75:525:35

Solar energy in September

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in September, about 4.15 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.47 kWh/m² to a high of 5.31 kWh/m² in July across the year — September's 4.15 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

024151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.5Bright
24.5Bright
34.5Bright
44.5Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.3Bright
94.3Bright
104.3Bright
114.2Bright
124.2Bright
134.2Bright
144.1Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.0Bright
204.0Moderate
214.0Moderate
224.0Moderate
234.0Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.9Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
303.8Moderate
Planning a trip in September

Hazard calendar for Shanghai

In seasonPeak

In September, Shanghai sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Shanghai sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Shanghai's rainy season runs May–August, when most of the year's rain falls.

Pacific typhoon
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is September a good time to visit Shanghai?

Our two travel scores rate September for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.1
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

September is a reasonable time to visit Shanghai for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Shanghai in September

From September's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In September, Shanghai sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Shanghai in September

The nearest coast averages about 26°C in September — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 23 km away) is warmest in August at about 28°C and coldest in February near 7°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 27 to Oct 25 — about 5 months when the water holds above 20°C.

10°20°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan8Bracing
Feb7Bracing
Mar10Bracing
Apr14Bracing
May19Cool
Jun22Refreshing
Jul26Warm
Aug28Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct21Refreshing
Nov17Cool
Dec12Bracing

UV index in Shanghai in September

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in September peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Shanghai peaks around August 16 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateAug 16UV 10Dec 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar6High
Apr7High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in Shanghai in September

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where September falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Shanghai is worst in December — around 53 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.2× the cleanest month (August, 25 µg/m³).

Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Shanghai's WHO annual average of 37.7 µg/m³.

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorModeratePoorDec 2153 µg/m³Aug 1625 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan51Poor
Feb45Poor
Mar44Poor
Apr40Poor
May34Moderate
Jun29Moderate
Jul27Moderate
Aug25Moderate
Sep28Moderate
Oct32Moderate
Nov43Poor
Dec53Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Shanghai?

Shanghai sits at 31.2°N, 121.5°E, 12 m above sea level, in China. The nearest listed city is Suzhou, 83 km away.

TunxiGaigeturi

Topography around Shanghai

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Shanghai.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shanghai has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 30 m around an average of 6 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 158 m.

The land around Shanghai is covered by artificial surfaces (86%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (73%) within 16 km, and water (39%), cropland (29%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
30 m
16 km
55 m
80 km
158 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
September weather nearby: Suzhou 83 km · Wuxi 118 km · Ningbo 150 km · Hangzhou 161 km · Pingyao 169 km · Nanjing 270 km · Tunxi 345 km · Gaigeturi 520 km

China travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / I
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 47% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$13,862
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.5
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
17.4
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 464
Religion
unaffiliated 52%folk religion 22%Buddhist 18%Christian 5%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Shanghai (31.2222°, 121.4581°, elevation 12 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).