Climate in Jinan (Shandong)

The climate of Jinan is continental, with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers.
The city is located in north-central China, at 36 degrees north latitude, and 180 kilometers (110 miles) away from the sea: the position in a plain and the distance from the sea make the summer heat intense and unpleasant, while in winter, cold air can stagnate on the ground.
Jinan is the capital of the province of Shandong, and is also one of the ancient Chinese capitals; today it is a metropolis of millions of inhabitants, polluted as often happens in large Chinese cities.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to about 670 millimeters (26 inches) per year; owing to the monsoon regime, the rainiest season is summer, while the driest is winter. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and dry: the average January temperature is 0 degrees Celsius (32 °F), but sunny days are quite frequent. Precipitation is rare and not abundant, however, given the low temperatures, there may be some snowfalls, generally light.
The north wind can bring cold waves, with minimum temperatures around -15 °C (5 °F), as well as the dust of the Gobi Desert. In January 2021, the temperature dropped to -18 °C (-0.5 °F).
On other occasions, especially in December and February, there may be quite mild periods, with maximum temperatures around 15 °C (59 °F).

In spring, from March to May, the temperature increases, while rainy days become gradually more frequent. In March and April, the clash between air masses can cause sand storms. In May, there may already be very hot days, especially at the end of the month.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and muggy; owing to the Asian monsoon, it is the rainiest season (actually, it is the only really rainy season). June is already a hot month, but rainfall and muggy heat generally start in July, or during the month of June. However, the rains display an erratic pattern from year to year. The amount of sunshine is fairly good, but considering the length of the days, it is slightly lower than in the other seasons. The rains occur mainly in the form of downpours or thunderstorms.
The periods of good weather during summer can be very hot, with highs around 38 °C (100 °F), and in these cases, the heat does not give relief even at night. In July 2002, the temperature reached 42 °C (107.5 °F).
Usually, August is not as hot as June and July, but it is more sultry.

Autumn, from September to November, is initially warm, and gradually becomes milder, and then quite cold by November, but it can sometimes get cold at night already in October. The rains decrease and become rare enough.



The amount of sunshine in Jinan is good all year round, though, as mentioned, it decreases slightly in summer because of the monsoon. On average, there are around 2,500 hours of sunshine per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

From July to early October (and occasionally also in the second half of June), Jinan can be affected by typhoons, the tropical cyclones of South-East Asia, although this area of China is less exposed than the south.

South of Jinan, and just north of the city of Tai'an, we find Mount Tai (Tai Shan), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism. The mountain rises directly from the plain; the top (called Jade Emperor), at 1,545 meters (5,069 ft) above sea level, offers a beautiful view of the city. Here, the winter is freezing, although dry (but sometimes it can snow), while the summer is cool, but even more rainy than the plains. Precipitation amounts to 1,050 mm (41 in) per year, of which 665 mm (26 in) fall from June to August. Here are the average temperatures.

Best Time

The best times to visit Jinan are spring and autumn, ie from the end of March to mid-May and from mid-September to the end of October. In April and October, at night, it can sometimes be cold, with lows around freezing.

Jinan - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -4.3 °C (24.3 °F) and a maximum of 4.1 °C (39.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17 °C (1.4 °F) in January 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 12 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 20.2 °C (68.4 °F) in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.3 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -1.4 °C (29.6 °F) and a maximum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in February 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it reached 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) in February 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 47%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.2 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.1 °C (39.3 °F) and a maximum of 14.3 °C (57.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -6.6 °C (20.1 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) in March 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51 °F) and a maximum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) in April 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 16.3 °C (61.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (81.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 1.8 °C (35.2 °F) in May 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (93.5 °F). However, it reached 39.1 °C (102.4 °F) in May 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 20.9 °C (69.7 °F) and a maximum of 31.6 °C (88.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.2 °C (106.2 °F) in June 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 53%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 27.6 °C (82 °F), with a minimum of 23.1 °C (73.5 °F) and a maximum of 32 °C (89.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it dropped to 17 °C (62.6 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm (7.9 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) in August 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 170 mm (6.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 22.1 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.3 °C (63.2 °F) and a maximum of 27 °C (80.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (53 °F). However, it dropped to 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in September 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 11.1 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 21 °C (69.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) in October 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 8.1 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.6 °F) and a maximum of 12.6 °C (54.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4 °C (25 °F). However, it dropped to -10.1 °C (13.8 °F) in November 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in November 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.7 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2.5 °C (27.6 °F) and a maximum of 5.9 °C (42.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in December 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 19 °C (66.2 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).