SHANGHAI, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- East China's Shanghai Municipality experienced its 25th consecutive day of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday, breaking a nearly century-old record for the longest continuous stretch of high temperatures in the city's history.

According to the municipal meteorological service, the previous record of 24 consecutive high-temperature days was set in 1926, when scorching heat persisted from July 22 to Aug. 14.

This year's prolonged heat wave has dealt Shanghai a total of 44 high-temperature days so far.

The city's first high-temperature day this year was June 17 -- about 10 days earlier than the average for past years. The August heat has been particularly intense, with Shanghai recording 26 high-temperature days in the last 30 days, matching the record high for the month set just last year.

Meteorologist Zhu Xueyan attributes the persistent heat to the abnormal behavior of the Northwestern Pacific subtropical high. The high-pressure circulation system has been stronger and more stable over the Yangtze River Delta region since early August, creating conditions conducive to sustained high temperatures, Zhu told Xinhua. ■