Shanghai, China Records Highest May Temperature in 150 Years... Soars to 36.7°C

Early Heatwave Begins Due to Super El Ni?o Effects

The temperature in Shanghai, China, soared to 36.7 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature recorded in May in 150 years. Meteorologists say the effects of the 'Super El Nino' phenomenon, which is expected to intensify from the end of this year, are already impacting the climate in East Asia, forecasting continued heatwaves and heavy rains this summer.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to local media such as China’s Pengpai News on the 29th, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau announced that the temperature at the Xujiahui observation station in downtown Shanghai reached 36.7 degrees Celsius, breaking the highest May temperature record in 150 years. The previous highest May temperature in Shanghai was 35.7 degrees Celsius, recorded four times in 1876, 1903, 1915, and 2018. This time, the heatwave exceeded that record by 1 degree.

The average temperature in Shanghai in May ranges between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius, with the intense heat typically beginning in June and continuing through July and August. This year, the heatwave arrived earlier than usual, raising concerns that the heat will be even more severe than last summer’s high-temperature phenomenon.

Since the 25th, the heatwave has persisted in Shanghai, with temperatures breaking records daily. The Shanghai meteorological authorities issued a yellow high-temperature warning, warning that many parts of the city would exceed 35 degrees Celsius and urging citizens to minimize outdoor activities.

China has already frequently issued heatwave warnings this month, mainly in the central and southern regions. Many areas in Sichuan Province in the southwest have been placed under high-temperature advisories, with some locations exceeding 42 degrees Celsius, setting new records. The China Meteorological Administration forecasts that temperatures in most parts of southern China, including Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan provinces, will rise above 35 degrees Celsius until the 31st, with some areas reaching between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius.

This year, El Nino is expected to appear for the first time in three years, and early heatwaves and frequent heavy rains have already been anticipated across East Asia. The El Nino phenomenon refers to a condition where sea surface temperatures near the equatorial western Pacific rise relatively, while those in the eastern Pacific decrease, weakening the trade winds and causing sea surface temperatures along the South American coast to remain higher than average for several months. The opposite phenomenon is called La Nina.

With La Nina, which lasted for three years since 2020, ending and signs of El Nino beginning in the second half of this year, there are growing concerns that heatwaves and heavy rains will become commonplace throughout East Asia. Earlier, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned in a report released on the 17th that the likelihood of El Nino occurring this year exceeds 90%, and that the worst heatwave in human history in the past five years is expected to arrive.