Air pollution is forecast to stay in Shanghai today and a blue smog alert is issued early in the morning, warning locals to reduce outdoor activities and take precautions.
China has a four-tier color-coded system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
A blue alarm is issued when the air quality index (AQI) is forecast to be between 201 and 300 for the coming 24 hours.
Today’s alarm was triggered at 6am in Shanghai. The average PM2.5 density for the past 24 hours by 11am today is about 128 micrograms per cubic meter while the hourly density at 11am peaked to about 158, according to local weather authority. The daily standard recommended by World Health Organization is only 25 micrograms per cubic meter.
It is forecast that the air quality will remain moderately to heavily polluted this afternoon and turn slightly to moderately polluted in the evening in Shanghai.
A new bout of smog is also hitting some areas in northern China with national observatory issued an orange alert for air pollution earlier Sunday, influencing about 60 cities.
Source: Shanghai Daily
