The climate of Nanjing (or Nanking), the capital of the Jiangsu Province and an ancient Chinese capital, is
, with cold winters, and hot, muggy and rainy summers. Nanjing is located in eastern China, 205 km (130 mi) away from the sea, and it's crossed by the Yangtze (or Blue River).
amounts to 1,100 millimeters (43 inches) per year; there is no real dry season, however, autumn and winter are the least rainy seasons, while summer, when the rains occur mainly in the form of showers or thunderstorms, is the rainiest season.
, from December to February, is quite cold: the average January temperature is 3 °C (37.5 °F). There may be very cold periods, with temperatures around freezing even during the day, and with some chance of snow. The temperature dropped to -13 °C (8.5 °F) in January 1977 and in December 1991. In other periods, instead, the temperature becomes mild, around 15 °C (59 °F). At night, fog can form.
, from March to May, is initially mild, and becomes gradually warmer. In May, there are already some hot, summer-like days. Spring is a more unstable season than autumn.
, from June to September, is hot and muggy. Both the heat island effect of the big city and the humidity make the heat uncomfortable, especially in July and August. June is a wet and cloudy month. Periods of good weather can be sweltering, especially in July and August, with highs around 37/38 °C (99/100 °F) or more and tropical nights. The temperature reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 2003 and in August 2013, and 41 °C (106 °F) in July 2017.
, in October and November, is initially mild, and gradually becomes cooler, and then quite cold at night by November. This is the time of year when the rains are least frequent. In autumn, in the hill called
in Nanjing is not very high; however, the sunniest period (albeit slightly) is from April to August, with the exception of June, which, as we mentioned, is a month when the sky is often cloudy.
, the tropical cyclones of Southeast Asia, can affect this area, though less frequently than in southern China.
The best times to visit Nanjing are spring and autumn, and in particular, from April to mid-May and from the end of September to the beginning of November. It must be said that spring is rainier, while in autumn, the arrival of a typhoon can not be excluded.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3 °C, with a minimum of
-1.3 °C and a maximum of
7.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-11 °C in January 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
15.5 °C. However, it reached
21 °C in January 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.2 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.5 °C, with a minimum of
0.9 °C and a maximum of
10 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in February 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
9.5 kph.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.9 °C, with a minimum of
4.9 °C and a maximum of
15 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in March 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30.3 °C in March 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.9 °C, with a minimum of
10.5 °C and a maximum of
21.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0 °C in April 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
34.2 °C in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
80 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is of
9.9 kph.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
21.4 °C, with a minimum of
16.2 °C and a maximum of
26.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6 °C in May 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34 °C. However, it reached
37.5 °C in May 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
9.6 kph.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
20.8 °C and a maximum of
29.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
15 °C in June 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35 °C. However, it reached
37.5 °C in June 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
165 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 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 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.4 kph.
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.6 °C, with a minimum of
24.7 °C and a maximum of
32.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
21 °C. However, it dropped to
17.4 °C in July 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
41 °C in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to
215 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.1 kph.
August is generally a very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
28.2 °C, with a minimum of
24.2 °C and a maximum of
32.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20 °C. However, it dropped to
16.9 °C in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
145 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.3 kph.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.7 °C, with a minimum of
19.5 °C and a maximum of
27.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
14 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in September 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
37.6 °C in September 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.8 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
3 °C in October 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
33.4 °C in October 2002.
Precipitation amounts to
60 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.3 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
16.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.3 °C in November 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
December is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.2 °C, with a minimum of
0.4 °C and a maximum of
10 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.1 °C in December 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
29.5 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 44% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8 kph.