Climate　change　and　rapid　urbanization　have　jointly　altered　the　climate　characteristics　of　cities,　including　rainfall,　humidity,　and　temperature,　and　have　resulted　in　an　increase　of　extreme　precipitation.　In　this　study,　to　identify　the　hydrothermal　driving　factors　responsible　for　extreme　precipitation　in　urban　areas,　sensitivity　experiments　were　carried　out　on　two　extreme　precipitation　events　in　Shanghai,　China,　using　the　weather　research　and　forecasting　(WRF)　model　coupled　with　the　artificial　water　dissipation　urban　canopy　model　(AWDUCM).　The　simulation　results　from　the　WRF　model　and　observations　from　35　weather　stations　across　Shanghai　were　compared.　The　results　showed　that　WRF　could　simulate　the　spatial　distribution　and　precipitation　intensity　of　extreme　rainfall　more　accurately　when　integrated　with　the　AWDUCM.　With　the　AWDUCM　incorporated,　the　root-mean-square　errors　of　the　two　simulated　precipitation　events　were　9.1　and　9.9　mm　respectively　(accounting　for　approximately　20%　of　the　total　rainfall).　The　near-surface　temperature　and　specific　humidity　in　the　AWDUCM　simulation　were　approximately　0.5.C　and　1g.kg(-1)　higher　than　in　the　NON　simulation　(that　did　not　invoke　the　AWDUCM)　respectively.　Urbanization　factors　increase　the　near-surface　temperature　and　specific　humidity　in　urban　and　built-up　land,　and　the　results　of　this　study　indicate　that　these　are　two　of　the　driving　forces　affecting　precipitation.　Increased　water　vapor　and　urban　heat　island　effects　caused　by　urbanization　are　enhancing　the　intensity　of　extreme　precipitation　in　Shanghai.