Shanghai recently made headlines after experiencing the highest temperature on record at the Xujiahui station. The city endured a scorching 12-day heatwave, with temperatures hitting or surpassing 37 C from July 31 to Aug 11. This surpasses the previous record set in 2017, which saw 11 consecutive days of extreme heat from July 18 to 28. The relentless heatwave has been attributed to the influence of the subtropical high-pressure system.

The prolonged stretch of sweltering weather coincided with Chinese Valentine's Day, also known as the Qixi Festival, celebrated on Aug 10 this year. Qixi commemorates the annual reunion of the legendary lovers Niulang, the cow herder-boy, and Zhinyu, the weaving-girl, who meet on a bridge just once a year, as depicted in Chinese folklore. On the day of the festival, Shanghai experienced a maximum temperature of 37.6 C, stepping up the heat for couples celebrating this romantic occasion.

The city expects temperatures to drop starting Aug 12. With the weakening of the subtropical high-pressure system and the presence of prevailing easterly winds, Shanghai is poised to experience more comfortable conditions in the coming days.

Source: Shanghai Observer