Shanghai smothered by dense smog

Shanghai suffered heavy air pollution Thursday morning as the air quality index shot up to 245 before 10am, the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center said.

It warned people against outdoor activities — especially seniors, children and people with respiratory diseases.

The Shanghai Municipal Education Commission has sent text messages to principals of local primary and middle schools and heads of kindergartens to suggest halting outdoor activities.

Temperatures should reach 22 degrees Celsius Thursday and 26 degrees on Saturday but are expected to fall to a high of 18 degrees on Sunday and 15 degrees on Monday.

Drizzle is predicted over the weekend.