City sees first snow as the big chill takes control
Shanghai was hit by the year’s most severe cold wave yesterday, with many commuters experiencing a flurry of snow in the morning — the city’s first snow this year.
The highest temperature dropped to about 6 degrees Celsius yesterday after taking a 14-degree plunge in the past 48 hours.
Shanghai meteorological authorities confirmed the snowfall, which took different forms such as snow pellets, ice particles and snowflakes.
However, as the temperature close to the ground was not below zero degrees, the snowflakes melted before touching the floor.
Snowfall was, however, notable in the northern and western parts of the city.
Staff members at Shanghai Tower recorded the flying snowflakes from the world’s second tallest building in the morning.
The temperature recorded at the benchmark Xujiahui weather station during the day ranged between 3 and 5 degrees, weather authorities said.
Despite a temporary end to the rainfall in the morning, the temperature in most districts stayed between 3 and 4 degrees, meteorologists added.
The rainfall and sleet are predicted to continue through today, with the high temperature remaining below 10 degrees, around 7 degrees, and lows around 3 degrees.
The mercury will rebound starting from Saturday and stay between 11 to 13 degrees until next week.
But, winter is not here yet as the official arrival of winter requires the average temperature to remain lower than 10 degrees for five consecutive days, according to the authorities.
A strong cold front hit Shanghai and neighboring provinces from Tuesday afternoon, with snowfall reported in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces as well.
The National Meteorological Center said that temperatures are expected to plunge by 8 to 10 degrees in most parts of northeastern and northern China as well as some areas in other regions from Tuesday to this morning.
It issued an orange alert, predicting big temperature drops, winds, sandstorms, rains and snow in vast regions of the country.
The mercury continued to fall through the day in Shanghai, with the temperature in suburban Songjiang, Jinshan and Fengxian districts dipping below 3 degrees due to gale, snow and rainfall, the city’s meteorological bureau added in the afternoon.
We prepared spades, salt, meadows and other tools in advance ... In case there is an iced-up place, we can deal with it as soon as possible.
Roxanne Lu, who works in the Bund area, said she had put on a turtleneck sweater to prepare for the cold wave.
“It seems we’re suddenly hitting the coldest time of the year,” she noted.
With the drop in temperature, the Shanghai Health Promotion Center reminded elderly people, patients with chronic diseases, children and those with weak immunity to stay alert and avoid going out during the cold spell.
If they have to leave their homes, these people, especially those with cardiovascular diseases, should keep warm and wear winter caps.
Chronic disease patients must follow doctors’ guidance and monitor their blood pressure and glucose level and visit the hospital if they suffer symptoms like numbness in one side of the body, chest sickness, and nausea with vomiting.
Meanwhile, local delivery sites and courier service providers have put in extra efforts to support their riders in response to rising demand from residents for food and grocery amid the cold weather.
Sales of winter gloves surged 75 percent in Shanghai on the previous two days on shopping platform Meituan while hot water mug sales also saw a 35 percent rise.
In selected downtown areas in Shanghai, deliveries jumped about 20 percent, according to Meituan.
Ele.me’s regular winter-care program has allocated nearly 1 million sets of cold shielding apparels around the nation.
The delivery platform also prepared additional food and medical kits for its couriers.
Meituan has, meanwhile, dispatched extra gears, such as winter helmets, leg warmers and knee pad protectors, to its dispatch centers in the city.
Elsewhere, police stepped up efforts to ensure steady movement of vehicles as the rainfall caused traffic congestion during the rush hours.
Local traffic police dispatched more personnel to ensure road safety.
They increased staff on major roads and busy intersections, such as sections of the Humin elevated road and North-South elevated road, in advance.
“We prepared spades, salt, meadows and other tools in advance,” said a police officer in downtown Yangpu District.
“In case there is an iced-up place, we can deal with it as soon as possible,” the officer added.