Weather in Nanjing

Stay up to date with the latest weather conditions in Nanjing. In this section, you will find current data, forecasts, and useful weather charts.

The climate of Nanjing can be characterized as humid subtropical, with four distinct seasons. The city experiences significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year, meaning varied weather conditions depending on the time of your visit.

Summer in Nanjing, especially from June to August, is hot and humid. Average temperatures in July and August approach 29°C, while maximums often exceed 30-32°C. This period is also the rainiest: July stands out with the highest rainfall (about 7 mm) and the highest number of rainy days (18 on average). Winters, from December to February, are cool, with average temperatures around 3-6°C, while minimum temperatures can drop to zero or slightly below. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are transitional seasons with more moderate and generally comfortable temperatures.

Thus, when planning a trip to Nanjing, it is worth being prepared for a sultry and humid summer with frequent rain, especially in mid-summer. Winter will offer cool weather requiring warm clothing. The spring and autumn months are usually considered the most pleasant to visit thanks to mild weather and less rainfall compared to summer.

The temperature regime in Nanjing demonstrates distinct seasonality, offering travellers diverse climatic conditions throughout the year. The annual temperature course ranges from cool winter values to sultry summer highs. The coldest month is typically January, when the average temperature holds at 3.7°C, and nighttime lows can drop slightly below freezing (averaging -0.3°C). In contrast, the heat peaks in July and August, with average temperatures of 28.7°C and 28.8°C respectively. In August, daytime highs regularly exceed 32°C, making it the hottest period of the year.

The summer months in Nanjing, from June to August, are characterized by consistently high temperatures and significant humidity. In June, the average temperature is around 25.6°C, gradually rising towards August. Daytime highs during this period rarely drop below 29°C, and in July and August, they often reach marks of 31-32°C. Nights also remain very warm, with minimum temperatures usually not falling below 21-25°C. This creates a sensation of constant heat, which is important to consider when planning outdoor activities.

Winter in Nanjing, spanning December, January, and February, brings noticeable cooling. Monthly average temperatures fluctuate from 3.7°C in January to 5.7°C in February. Daytime highs on the coldest days of January may not exceed 7-8°C, and nighttime temperatures often drop to 0.5°C in December and even to -0.3°C in January, indicating the possibility of light frosts. February brings some warming compared to January but still remains cool. Fluctuations between day and night temperatures in winter are somewhat more pronounced than in summer, averaging about 8-9°C, which means noticeably colder nights compared to daytime hours.

Precipitation in Nanjing is distributed unevenly throughout the year, with a clearly defined wet season falling during the summer months and a drier period during the rest of the year. Such seasonality is largely due to the influence of monsoons, which bring abundant rains in summer.

The highest amount of precipitation falls between May and August. The undisputed leader in humidity is July, when an average of 7 mm of precipitation falls, and the number of rainy days reaches 18. June also sees significant rainfall (6 mm) and about 12 rainy days. August brings about 5 mm of precipitation with 14 rainy days. By May, the amount of precipitation noticeably increases, reaching 4 mm over 11 days. Summer rains are often intense and can be prolonged.

The driest months in Nanjing are considered to be November and December: each receives only 1 mm of precipitation, and the number of rainy days drops to 6. In general, late autumn and winter (from October to February) are characterized by significantly less rainfall. Thus, in October, about 2 mm falls over 7 days, and in January and February — 2 mm with 9 rainy days each month. Winter precipitation is usually lighter. Considering that minimum temperatures in December (around 0.5°C) and January (around -0.3°C) can drop to the freezing mark and below, in these months, besides rain, light snow or wet snow is possible.

Spring months, such as March and April, as well as early autumn, particularly September, are transitional periods. In March and April, precipitation amounts to about 2 mm with 9 rainy days in each month, indicating a gradual increase in humidity before the summer peak. September, following the wet summer, brings a decrease in precipitation to 3 mm over 10 days, marking the transition to the drier autumn-winter season.

When planning a trip to Nanjing, it is important to choose your wardrobe correctly, considering the distinct change of seasons. Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes are your main companion, as the city is conducive to long walks. The principle of layering clothing will also be very handy, especially in the transitional seasons – spring and autumn – when the weather can be changeable. Do not forget an electronics adapter and a portable charger.

In summer (June-August), Nanjing is hot and very humid, with frequent and sometimes heavy rains, especially in July. Bring light, breathable clothing made of natural fabrics (cotton, linen), shorts, and t-shirts. You will definitely need sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. A compact umbrella or a light raincoat will become indispensable accessories. Winter (December-February) here is cool, with average temperatures around +3-6°C and night frosts. You will need a warm jacket or coat, sweaters, warm trousers, a hat, a scarf, and gloves. Although there is less precipitation in winter, it still occurs, so waterproof outerwear may come in handy.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the most comfortable seasons to visit Nanjing with moderate temperatures. In spring, the weather gradually warms up, and in autumn, it cools down. For these periods, layered clothing is suitable: t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, light sweaters or fleece jackets, jeans or trousers, as well as a medium-weight jacket (windbreaker or mid-season jacket). A small umbrella will still be useful, as rains are possible, though less intense than in summer.