Shanghai weather in May
Shanghai in May averages 22°C (71°F), 84 mm of rain and 5.5 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Shanghai, May is the fifth warmest, the sixth wettest and the third sunniest.
- Average temp
- 22°C (71°F)
18–26°C · 64–78°F
- Rainfall
- 84 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 5.5 h
hours per day
What is Shanghai like in May?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Shanghai in May?
A light rain jacket
About 84 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A layer for the evening
Evenings cool off noticeably once the sun is down.
May compared with April and June
May in Shanghai is 5.3°C warmer than April and 12 mm wetter than it, which averages 16°C (62°F).
May in Shanghai is 3.3°C cooler than June and 108 mm drier than it, which averages 25°C (77°F).
Daylight in Shanghai in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 13 hours 45 minutes in Shanghai, rising about 04:58 and setting about 18:43 local time.
May ends 38 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
Where to stay in Shanghai
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Shanghai
What to read before you book.
Shanghai weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C / 42°F | 69 mm |
| February | 7°C / 45°F | 65 mm |
| March | 11°C / 52°F | 88 mm |
| April | 16°C / 62°F | 72 mm |
| May | 22°C / 71°F | 84 mm |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 192 mm |
| July | 30°C / 85°F | 151 mm |
| August | 29°C / 85°F | 216 mm |
| September | 25°C / 77°F | 97 mm |
| October | 20°C / 68°F | 64 mm |
| November | 14°C / 58°F | 53 mm |
| December | 8°C / 47°F | 43 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Shanghai in May
May climate averages for Shanghai, 1991–2020.
Shanghai averages 22°C (71°F) in May, ranging from about 18°C (64°F) at night to 26°C (78°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 84 mm falls across May, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. May averages 22°C (71°F) against 25°C (77°F) in June — 3.3°C cooler.
May is 5.3°C warmer than April, and 12 mm wetter.
Yes. May falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, April to June, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 5.5 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 13 hours 45 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 14 hours 10 minutes in June and 10 hours 8 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 04:58 and sunset about 18:43 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 38 minutes longer than it starts.
