This will likely be the hottest summer in Shanghai in 70 years, according to local forecasters.

Wang Hao, an electrician, works on the side of a broken-down power transformer in Shanghai yesterday. The almost unprecedented heat wave has strained the city's power supply and caused blackouts and breakdowns. [eastday.com]

Thursday's high in the city is expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius (99 F), marking the 20th day this year the mercury has topped 35 degrees (95 F). The record for days with temperatures above 35 degrees was set in 1934, when the city suffered through 23 scorchers, according to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

The highest temperature recorded that year, an all-time high for the city, was 40.2 degrees (104 F). This year's high was set last Friday at blistering 39.6 degrees (103 F).

Meteorologists say there is no relief in sight as the city is still in the tight control of stable subtropical high pressure system.

The heat wave is creating problems with electricity supply, which can't keep up with demand. The situation is "very serious," Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said yesterday.

While calling on residents to cut back on energy use, the city government promises it will ensure power supply to all families in Shanghai.

Lights in a Shanghai office building have been turned off due to an electricity shortage following temperatures above 35 C (95 F) for 18 consecutive days, July 29, 2003. The Shanghai municipal government announced Tuesday that all landscape lighting around the city will be temporarily suspended and restrictions will be imposed on electricity supplies to factories and non-essential engineering projects. [newsphoto.com.cn]

On Wednesday, peak demand of the city's electricity network reached 13.52 million kilowatts, Shanghai Electric Power Co said. The power supply was neither rationed nor cut off in the morning, but supply for industrial use had to be rationed in the afternoon.

Other parts of China are also sizzling this summer.

The Central Meteorological Station forecasts southern China and regions along the Huaihe and Yangtze rivers will see temperatures ranging from 35 to 37 degrees today.

The mercury will reach 39 to 41 degrees in the eastern and central provinces of Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei and Anhui, the station said.

Four people died from heat stroke over the last few days in the nearby city of Nanjing, which is considered one of China's "four furnaces."

The victims ranged from 30 to 80 years old. Many others are hospitalized for high fever apparently caused by hot weather.

Authorities in Zhejiang said that the province is suffering from the most severe drought - brought by persistent high temperatures and scarce rainfall - over the past 50 years.

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