February sets record for rainy days

Last month, Shanghai nearly doubled the average number of rainy days for February compared to that seen in the last 30 years with 18 days of rain, wet conditions that were met with another record for the month - an average temperature low, local weather authorities said Wednesday.

The unusually plentiful rainfall in the city last month was encouraged by an increase in moist air from the south, said Zhu Jiehua, chief service officer for the city's weather bureau.

She added that the system is expected to continue to impact the city for the coming week.

"More moist air affecting the city is forecast to remain active, so the city is likely to be washed by more heavy rains for the first week of March," she told the Global Times Wednesday.

The city's average temperature for the majority of February, meanwhile, dropped to 4.7 C, which rested at nearly two degrees below 6.3 C, the average temperature for the month over the past three decades, according to data from the local weather bureau.

Zhu said that local residents should still continue to dress up warmly this week, even though temperatures are expected to hover between 6 C and 10 C.

"The damp, rainy conditions will make people feel colder despite the slightly more moderate temperatures," she said.