YESTERDAY was Shanghai’s coldest July day for 112 years, with the mercury topping out at just 21.2 degrees Celsius at the benchmark Xujiahui weather station, according to the city’s metrological bureau.

In 1903, the coldest July day came in at a decidedly chilly 20.9 degrees, it said.

The recent heavy rains and a “cold air mass” are to blame for the dip in temperatures, which in the 10 days through Sunday were about 3 degrees lower than normal.