One-day heatwave a flash in the pan
A shopper hides from the scorching sun on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall on Sunday.
Temperatures may fall by as much as 15 degrees Celsius next week after hitting more than 31 degrees on Sunday, the highest this year, forecasters said.
But along with the warmth came heavy pollution. The air quality index reached 201 at 9pm, with the concentration of PM2.5 particles 151 micrograms per cubic meter, six times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe level.
Shanghai Meteorological Bureau said temperatures soared to 30 degrees at 1pm at the Xujiahui weather station, while some other areas recorded highs above 31.
Kong Chunyan, a meteorologist with the bureau, said Sunday was the warmest April 7 in the city since records began. There have been seven instances of 30 degrees and above in early April or before, the earliest on March 20, 1933 and another on March 31, 1945.
On Monday, cold air from north China will move south and the day will be dry and sunny with a high of 26 degrees. The cold front will lead to better air quality by the afternoon.
Tuesday will turn overcast and there will be thunderstorms. The high will fall to 22 degrees.
Wednesday and Thursday will be much cooler under gray and cloudy skies with the mercury ranging from 12 to 16 degrees. Drizzle is likely on Wednesday afternoon.
Friday will be dry and clear and the high will rise to 18 degrees.
Sunny smiles all round as temperatures soar during the three-day Qingming holiday on Sunday.
