Shanghai may enter the autumn season as early as next month, although yesterday's mercury dropped to 17.3 degrees Celsius, the lowest temperature since summer officially arrived on June 27, meteorologists said.

In meteorology, only if average temperature is around 22 degrees or lower for five consecutive days can be considered the autumn season officially start.

But, the average reading over the weekend was 23.2 degrees, officials said.

Today's high will likely be 28 degrees, 0.2 degrees higher than yesterday. And the low could be 19 degrees, according to the Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Bureau.

"Sunshine during the day pushes the average temperatures to warm levels, but they can drop sharply in the early mornings or late nights. Residents should be well prepared for such big difference in temperatures," Chen Zhiqiang, the chief meteorologist, warned.

He added this week's average temperature is likely to be 23 degrees, with showers likely in the middle of the week.

Shanghai usually enters autumn in late September. However, in recent years the season's advent has been delayed to October due to global warming, the bureau said.

(eastday.com September 24, 2002)