Weather and climate in Chongqing (China)

In Chongqing (or Chungking), a great metropolis of south-central China, the climate is temperate, with fairly mild but cloudy winters and hot and muggy summers.
A city with a millennia-old history, Chongqing is today a megalopolis, polluted as often happens in big cities of China. It once belonged to Sichuan, while today it is administered directly by the central government. It is located at 29 degrees north latitude and at an altitude of 250 meters (820 feet), at the meeting point between the Jialing and Yangtze rivers.
Because of its position in a plain far from the sea and surrounded by mountains, it is very hot in summer, actually it is one of the hottest cities in China, while in the other seasons (but also on summer nights), it is often cloudy and foggy.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,100 mm (43 in) per year, with a maximum between late spring and early summer, when it occurs in the form of showers and thunderstorms (often at night), and a minimum in winter, when it is very weak, though quite frequent. Here is the average rainfall.

Winter, from December to February, is quite mild, in fact, the average January temperature is 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, there may be cold periods, with maximum temperatures around 5 °C (41 °F), and sometimes even snowfalls. In any case, the sky is often cloudy.

Spring, from March to May, is initially mild, and becomes gradually warmer but also rainier. In May, there are already some warm and summer-like days, at least as regards to the temperature.

Summer, from June to September, is hot and muggy. The distance from the sea and the humidity make the heat annoying, especially in July and August. There can be oppressive periods, especially in July and August, with highs around 38/40 °C (100/104 °F) and tropical nights. In August 2006, the temperature reached 43 °C (109.5 °F), and there have been 13 days with highs equal to or higher than 40 °C (104 °F). However, July and August are also the (relatively) sunniest months of the year.

Autumn, in October and November, is generally mild, and gradually becomes cooler, and then quite cold at night by November. The rains gradually decrease, but the sun becomes less and less frequent.



The amount of sunshine in Chongqing is very poor: the only months when the sunshine hours exceed 40% (but they still remain below 50%) are July and August, while from November to February, the sun is almost never seen. With less than 1,000 hours of sunshine per year, Chongqing is one of the least sunny cities in China and all of Asia. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best times to visit Chongqing are spring and autumn, in particular, from mid-March to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-November.

Chongqing - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) and a maximum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in January 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 6% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 7.2 °C (45 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (56 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 9% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 1.9 °C (35.4 °F) in March 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 33.8 °C (92.8 °F) in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 17% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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April is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.3 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 15.1 °C (59.1 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 5.9 °C (42.6 °F) in April 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in April 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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May is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 22.7 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.6 °C (65.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 10.8 °C (51.4 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in May 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 145 mm (5.7 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 26% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 21.7 °C (71 °F) and a maximum of 29.3 °C (84.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it dropped to 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in June 1997.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 39.8 °C (103.6 °F) in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 195 mm (7.7 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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July is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 29.0 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) and a maximum of 33.4 °C (92.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19 °C (66.2 °F) in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102 °F). However, it reached 41.4 °C (106.5 °F) in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 29.0 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 24.5 °C (76 °F) and a maximum of 33.6 °C (92.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C (68.5 °F). However, it dropped to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in August 2005.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39.5 °C (103 °F). However, it reached 43 °C (109.4 °F) in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 135 mm (5.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 24.4 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.2 °C (82.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in September 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.8 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in October 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 1.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 14% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.4 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (63 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in November 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 1 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 11% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (3 mph).

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.1 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44 °F) and a maximum of 11.5 °C (52.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 19.4 °C (66.9 °F) in December 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 0.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 6% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 5 kph (3 mph).