Shanghai, which has suffered through a heat wave for the past fortnight, is forecast to receive more hot weather, creating the possibility of a power shortage.

With the temperature soaring to 38.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the continuous searing hot weather caused electricity consumption to hit a record 22.43 million kw at 1:35 PM, according to the municipal power grid.

It said the country's financial hub had undergone an average electricity consumption load of 20 million kw over the past few days.

The city had closely monitored its electricity consumption, and set power consumption limits for some overloaded areas such as the massive Minhang, Songjiang and Pudong districts.

The municipal weather station said on Thursday locals could expect more scorching days ahead. The weatherman issued an orange signal alert of high temperature in the morning, adding it was the city's third heat wave of the year.

Temperatures were expected to linger around 36 degrees on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2008)