Shanghai Haze Drives AQI to 211, Expected to Ease After Jan 10

Pollution affecting Shanghai and surrounding areas is expected to fully dissipate by January 10, officials said, as haze driven by elevated PM2.5 levels reduced visibility across the city on Tuesday and left the Lujiazui skyline barely visible through gray air.

The city's air quality index (AQI) stood at 180 at 8pm on Tuesday, indicating moderate pollution, according to the ecology and environment bureau. PM2.5 was identified as the primary pollutant.

Pollution levels briefly worsened earlier in the day, reaching heavy pollution at around 3pm, when the AQI climbed to 211.

According to officials, westerly winds brought polluted air from upstream areas, and weak local wind conditions limited its dispersal, causing PM2.5 concentrations to rise.

"The pollution affecting Shanghai and surrounding areas is expected to fully dissipate by January 10," said Wang Qian, chief forecaster at the city's environmental monitoring center.

Air quality from Tuesday night through Wednesday is forecast to range from good to light pollution, with isolated periods of moderate pollution possible on Wednesday night.

Conditions are expected to improve further on January 8 and 9, remaining mostly within the good-to-light range. PM2.5 is expected to remain the dominant pollutant.

On Tuesday, morning fog, increasing cloud cover, and brief rain kept it cool. The city's Xujiahui weather station recorded an 8-degree high.

On Wednesday, Shanghai will be sunny to partly cloudy with morning lows around 2 degrees Celsius in urban regions and -2 to 0 degrees Celsius in suburban areas, where thin ice may form. Daytime highs are expected to reach around 10 degrees Celsius.

Friday and Saturday temperatures will reach 12 degrees Celsius before turning down on Sunday as colder air moves south. Anticipate another cold wave next Tuesday.

Forecasters warned Shanghai residents to use fire and electricity sparingly over the next 10 days due to generally dry weather.