It's Too Damned Hot!

Planet Ark link reports that Shanghai, China's largest city, experienced its warmest winter since records began in 1873.   The average temperature over the past three months was 8.1 degrees Celsius (46.6 Fahrenheit), 2.6 degrees warmer than the previous average.  Director of Shanghai's climate centre, attributed the record temperatures to global warming.   

France also recorded its warmest autumn and winter for several centuries. Meteo France said average temperatures from December to February were 2.1 degrees Celsius (35.78 Fahrenheit) above average -- the highest since it began collating "full and reliable" data from 22 French cities in 1950. 

"This remarkably mild winter follows an exceptionally hot 2006 autumn, which has not been seen before in the 1950-2006 period and without doubt even for several centuries," Meteo France said in a statement.

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Shanghai has Warmest Winter on Record

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SHANGHAI - Shanghai, China's largest city, has experienced its warmest winter since records began in 1873, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

 

The average temperature over the past three months was 8.1 degrees Celsius (46.6 Fahrenheit), 2.6 degrees warmer than the previous average, Xinhua quoted the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau as saying.

Lei Xiaotu, director of the bureau's climate centre, attributed the record temperatures to global warming.    

The warmer weather cut energy consumption in some parts of Shanghai, home to about 18 million people. It also helped the growth of vegetables, pushing down their prices, Lei said.

The warming trend could also have negative effects on human health and the environment, he said.    

Earlier this week, Shanghai authorities said a particularly serious plague of mosquitoes was expected this summer after the warm winter helped them breed.

The winter was unusually warm for China as a whole, with an average temperature of minus 2.6 degrees, 1.8 degrees higher than normal, Xinhua said. Last year was the country's warmest in more than half a century.

 

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France has Warmest Autumn, Winter for Centuries

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PARIS - France recorded its warmest autumn and winter for several centuries, the meteorological office said on Thursday as the government warned it was worried about water supplies. Meteo France said average temperatures from December to February were 2.1 degrees Celsius (35.78 Fahrenheit) above average -- the highest since it began collating "full and reliable" data from 22 French cities in 1950.

 

"This remarkably mild winter follows an exceptionally hot 2006 autumn, which has not been seen before in the 1950-2006 period and without doubt even for several centuries," Meteo France said in a statement.

It added that northeast France was especially mild, with temperatures almost 3 C above normal in the three winter months. It said the outlook was for a hotter-than-normal spring.

A government committee held a monthly meeting on the water situation in France on Thursday and urged users, especially farmers, to be careful, saying rainfall between September and February was slightly lower-than-average.

"The water situation is worrying and one must remain attentive," Environment Minister Nelly Olin said, adding that water restrictions looked almost certain in some areas.

(Additional reporting by Paule Bonjean)   

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