Last year was a strange one as far as the weather was concerned, with serious meteorological disasters and abnormal weather patterns reported in Shanghai.

That doesn't mean the city has entered a period of frequent disastrous weather, officials with the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau stressed.

Average temperatures for the year were higher than historic averages, especially during the summer when the warm weather arrived earlier than usual and lasted longer. The longer summer weather meant autumn temperatures were also higher than historic averages.

Chilly and rainy weather with little sunshine, storms and lightening, and especially typhoons have caused big economic losses to the city last year, according to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

The average temperature for the whole year was 16.8 degrees Celsius, 1 degree higher than usual, thanks to 31 days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Traditionally, temperatures only top 35 in the city nine times a year.

The average temperature for the flood season, from June to September, was 28.5 degrees, the highest in 133 years and about 2 degrees above the historic average.

The bureau issued 56 disastrous weather alerts for storms, extreme heat or chill, thick fog and typhoons during the year. They bureau listed the eight biggest meteorological events for 2005:

1. Two powerful typhoons affected the city last year and caused serious damage, especially Typhoon Matsa, which by-passed the city in early August and brought strong winds of up to 117 kilometers per hour and heavy rain to downtown. It's one of the most powerful typhoons that have affected the city since 1949.

2. The average temperature for January and February was the lowest in 10 years, ending a streak of warm winters in the city.

3. The average temperature for downtown last year was 28.5 degrees, 2 degrees higher than the historic average and the highest average since the city began keeping records 133 years ago.

4. The Plum Rain season was dry, with the lowest amount of rainfall in 40 years.

5. A thunder storm and strong winds on July 30 resulted in direct economic losses of more than 5 million yuan (US$617,284).

6. The average temperature in September was 28.4 degrees, 4.8 degrees higher than historic levels.

7. A thunder storm on February 6 was the earliest since 1949. The average date for thunderstorms to begin in the city is March 15.

8. December was cold with an average temperature of 5.6 degrees, 3.7 degrees lower than the historic average for the month.

(Shanghai Daily January 28, 2006)