Air quality better; rains due this week

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THE air quality in Shanghai should improve this week but may remain less than ideal today in some parts of the city despite stronger winds, weather authorities said.

The city was beset with a haze over the weekend that dropped air quality below the ''good'' mark as it climbed over 100 in the newly launched Air Quality Index, or AQI, according to the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center.

On Saturday, the AQI was 195, in the "moderate" range in which healthy people are advised to reduce outdoor activities. By 6pm yesterday, the AQI had improved to 128, "light'' pollution that means children, the elderly and heart and respiratory patients are advised to reduce outdoor activities.

The Shanghai observatory said a light haze may stick around this morning in some parts of the city.

Drizzles are expected to start late tomorrow and last much of the week.

Temperatures also should rise this week, with lows likely staying above 10 degrees and highs up to around 16 degrees, the observatory said.

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