Climate Insights for Nanjing

The climate in Nanjing is temperate. The average annual temperature is 17°C and approximately 1268mm of precipitation falls per year. Nanjing receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Nanjing is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: August, July, June. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to 0°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Temperatures in Nanjing vary considerably across the year, with a 33°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is August, when average highs reach 33°C and the mean temperature sits around 29°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 0°C and an average of 4°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 8°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between November and December, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Nanjing is a fairly wet location, receiving approximately 1268mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 106mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 254mm of rainfall. June and August also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 34mm. That's 220mm less than July, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 15cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 8cm.

Nanjing is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 15km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 16km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 14km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 2km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently spring in Nanjing, which began on March 20, 2026. Nanjing is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in August at around 33°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 0°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 89 days from now.

The best time to visit Nanjing is during April and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 17°C with modest rainfall averaging 80mm per month. By contrast, August can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 33°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 0°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Nanjing based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.