No relief in sight from heat wave

Shanghai will get no relief from the heat wave this week as the city continued to suffer extremely high temperatures, the local weather bureau forecast Sunday.

The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau issued an orange high temperature alert at 8:51 am Sunday. The bureau issues an orange heat alert, the second highest on its three-tiered warning system, when the temperature is expected to rise above 38 C over the following 24 hours.

The high temperature hit 38.1 C by 2 pm downtown. It was the 22nd high temperature alert that the bureau issued in the first 28 days in July, including two red alerts on Thursday and Friday.

"Residents are unlikely to get any relief from the heat this week," said Zhang Ruiyi, a press officer for the bureau.

However, the high temperature will slip to around 37 C over the first three days this week as the subtropical high pressure system driving the hot weather subsides, Zhang said.

Scattered thunder showers are expected in the afternoon from Monday to Wednesday, but they will not reduce the temperature, Zhang said.

The temperature will rise during the rest of this week, with the high temperature reaching as high as 39 C, according to Zhang.

"There may be more high temperature days in August and September, though it's improper to forecast how many are left this year," Zhang said.

In 1934, Shanghai experienced 55 days when the high temperature exceeded 35 C, including 23 in July alone, making it the hottest summer on record in the city. It was also the hottest July on record.