Hottest day of February since 1921

UNUSUALLY high temperatures on Monday forced Shanghai residents to put on T-shirts four months before the arrival of summer, albeit temporarily.

The highest temperature in the eastern metropolis reached 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, making it the hottest late February day since February 27, 1921, when temperatures hit 28.5 degrees Celsius, according to Shanghai’s meteorological records.

Affected by the warm weather, the city’s cherry blossom had already bloomed on Monday, 10 days ahead of the predicted flowering season, drawing many flower viewers and shutterbugs.

Kong Chunyan, chief forecaster of the Shanghai Meteorological Service, said the region around Shanghai was dominated by a strong warm-air mass, while the cold air from the north was too

weak to penetrate south.

However, the record high temperature proved shortlived. The meteorological service issued a blue gale alert at 1pm as temperatures in suburban Shanghai, including Chongming and

Baoshan districts, plunged by over 9 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

According to the data, Shanghai was cloudy and windy yesterday, with the temperature between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius. The city

will see overcast and rainy weather for nearly a week from today.

“Please put on the overcoat you just took off,” the meteorological service said in a notice to the residents.

Residents take photographs at Xinzhuang Plum Garden in Shanghai yesterday. Affected by the warm weather, cherry blossom in the city had already blossomed on Monday, attracting many flower viewers and shutterbugs. — Dong Jun