Shanghai is finally cooling down, thanks to the intermittent rain that began falling yesterday. Today's high temperature is predicted to hit 31 degrees Celsius, a dramatic drop from Monday's record-for-the-year 37.4 degrees.

Local meteorologists said the rain will last at least over the weekend due to a stable rain belt over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

According to Chen Zhiqiang, chief meteorologist of Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Bureau, the rain belt was created when a low-pressure system from the north collided with a high-pressure system that was hanging over the city.

The temperature will be between 25 to 32 degrees Celsius tomorrow and 27 to 31 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

Next Monday may be another hot day; meteorologists predicted that the day's highest temperature may reach 34 degrees.

Chen said showers are typical "summer rains" that mostly occur in the after-noon and night, sometimes accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Meteorologists warned people, especially farmers, to be aware of possible lightning strikes in open fields.

So far this summer, six farmers in Shanghai have been killed by lightning. Last year, three people were killed by lightning in the city.

( eastday.com July 19, 2002 )