Schools brace to face poor weather

• Source: Global Times
• [09:54 June 23 2010]
• Comments

As the city enters its rainy season, schools need to be prepared to adjust class times, or enforce temporary closures should poor weather conditions call for the measures, according to municipal educational authorities.

Under direction from the Ministry of Education, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission told schools on Monday that student safety should be the top priority.

Schools are being asked to change class schedules, or close down should dramatic weather conditions such as typhoons or torrential rain occur over the coming weeks.

Schools are also expected to have emergency staff on duty 24 hours a day until the summer break starts in July in case evacuation is necessary.

In addition, notices should be widely circulated at schools to properly inform teachers and staff of what to do should an emergency situation arise.

Meteorologists predict that after about three weeks of the rainy spell, commonly known to Chinese as huang mei, or the plum rain season, miserable weather conditions including high temperatures and storms may also rise.

Although summer came later this year compared with previous years, temperatures will hover around 30 C over the next few days, and will rise above 35 C for a predicted 15 to 24 days this summer, municipal weather authorities told media Tuesday.

Meanwhile, meteorologists are continuing to closely monitor weather conditions, predicting rain and a temperature high of 31 C for Thursday.

Global Times