Spring showers forecast for week ahead in Shanghai

Rain is expected for most of this week in Shanghai, forecasters said yesterday.

Appropriately enough, yesterday marked the final traditional solar term of spring, guyu — which means grain rain.

According to tradition, this signifies a warming trend in temperatures and heralds spring rains to help crops grow.

The weather bureau said the spring rain season for the city usually lasts from mid April to mid May.

This rain often takes the form of drizzle or light showers, with sudden and frequent shifts from fine weather to rainy skies, said officials.

Due to an eastbound rain belt, a wet and cooler start is forecast for this week, with a high of 17 degrees Celsius today.

Showers will weaken to scattered drizzle tomorrow and a warmer high of 19 degrees is expected, said forecasters.

Wednesday will be mainly dry and cloudy, with the high climbing to 22 degrees, while Thursday and Friday will see another round of showers with a slight drop in highs to between 19 and 21 degrees.

Lows from Monday to Friday are forecast to range from 12 to 16 degrees, said forecasters.