Conditions varying between heat, thunder and rain are expected to last for another five days, according to city weather authorities.

A traffic assistant wipes off sweat yesterday as the top temperature hit 36 degrees Celsius.

Shanghai Meteorological Bureau officials said temperatures were rising again via a subtropical high as the influence of Typhoon Morakot faded out.

The mercury hit 36 degrees Celsius yesterday, which became the city's 15th day with the maximum exceeding 35 degrees this summer after a month-long hiatus.

The maximum temperature today is forecast to be 37 degrees and the minimum 27 degrees.

The bureau said the latest weather swings were nothing unusual.

"The strengthening of the subtropical high caused the formation of strong convection above the city, which brings showers and thunder," said Fu Yi, chief service officer of the bureau.

"It's a normal summer climate," Fu said.

Fu said the mainly cloudy, hot and partly rainy weather in the city would continue for some days.

"But rain won't last long and will probably slacken off in the evening," Fu said.

The bureau issued a yellow thunder alert and a yellow shower alert, both the third highest in the four-level system, at 15:52pm yesterday.

Rain hit parts of the city late yesterday and peaked at 47 millimeters per hour in some areas but flood damage was minimal.

Meanwhile, 10 drainage systems would be finished within this year, Shanghai Urban Construction Group said yesterday.

The systems are designed to improve the city's flood control after heavy rain.

(Shanghai Daily August 19, 2009)