Cold front heading for the city

A cold front is on its way, bringing temperatures down to as low as 4 degrees Celsius in downtown areas, forecasters said.

Drizzle is expected on Thursday with a low of 4 degrees and a high of 11, according to Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

A blue chill alert was issued at 6:35pm on Wednesday by the Shanghai Meteorological Observatory, the fourth in a four-tier system, warning the temperature would plummet by over 8 degrees in 48 hours in most suburban districts in Shanghai.

Their lowest temperature will drop below 4 within 48 hours, the observatory said.

Gales are forecast for Thursday.

Air quality is expected to be good to slightly polluted on Thursday with PM2.5 the top pollutant.

Friday's high will drop 2 degrees under the influence of the cold front with a low of 5 degrees, and it should be cloudy, the bureau said.

Rain will be back at the weekend but temperatures will rebound under the influence of warm and wet air, according to the bureau.

Saturday should be overcast with drizzle, with temperature ranging between 9 and 13 degrees.

Sunday will be overcast with drizzle, with the highest temperature climb 1 degree. 

Another strong cold front is expected to influence the city on December 30 to 31.