Temperatures are expected to top 36 degrees Celsius today, due to a high-pressure system controlling local weather patterns, meteorologists in Shanghai said yesterday.

Yesterday's high was 35.8 degrees Celsius, just 2.8 degrees short of the historic high for the date set in 1894.

While skies should be clear through the weekend, the Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Bureau warns that high temperatures may bring on flash showers in some areas around the city.

Chen Zhiqiang, thief meteorologist of the bureau, said that those rains will decide how high temperatures over the weekends - predicting the mercury would peak between 33 degrees and 35 degrees.

Yesterday was Shanghai's twelfth day this year with highs topping 35 degrees Celsius.

In June, local experts predicted that temperatures would top 33 degrees for 15 days this year in the city.

( eastday.com August 23, 2002)