Sunshine will be in short supply this week as Shanghai experiences alternate periods of overcast weather and drizzle, weathermen said yesterday.

After an overcast to cloudy Christmas and Boxing Day, the rain will return from Thursday through to the weekend, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau reported

Temperatures, however, will not change much. The highs will remain at about 10 degrees Celsius after lows of between six and eight degrees.

A strong cold front, however, is expected to hit the city from the weekend, giving the city a chilly start to the new year.

Temperatures are expected to drop by at least six degrees, with lows of four degrees in the downtown area. It will be even colder in the suburbs, the bureau said.

The good news is that the rain will then cease, and cloudy skies are forecast for New Year's Day.

The bureau reminded people to wrap up warm to be prepared for sudden cold spells.

(Shanghai Daily December 25, 2007)