THERE will be some relief today from the heavy smog that has shrouded the city for the last three days, weather forecasters said yesterday.

　　The easterly winds that hit the city early yesterday will linger on for a while and drive away the pollutants and ensuring better air quality in the next few days, the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center said.

　　The center said the Air Quality Index at 5am yesterday climbed to 201, or heavily polluted level.

　　The pollutants were driven into the city from the north. The heavy pollution receded slightly with the AQI dropping to 200 — the upper limit of a moderately polluted level — but it crossed 200 again after 7am and peaked to 213 by 9am.

　　The concentration of main pollutant, PM2.5 particles, went up to 160 micrograms per cubic meter at 9am, more than six times the acceptable World Health Organization’s figure of 25 micrograms.

　　“The crystal blue skies and white clouds have disappeared. What I see is only gray skies. I hope I won’t breathe in too much harmful particles,” said a young lady in Xujiahui.

　　Another person who took his little grandson out for a walk said he noticed the morning’s poor air quality and returned home.

　　A woman jogger also decided to go back home because of the smog.

　　“I forgot to watch the weather forecast before venturing out. I thought the sky would clear,” she said.

　　Schools stopped outdoor exercises and stayed indoors.

　　The Penglai Road No. 2 Primary School in Huangpu District canceled its morning football match and PE classes, principal Yu Zhen told Shanghai Daily.

　　“We have a mechanism that when the AQI index goes beyond 150, or the level of moderate pollution, we stop all outdoor activities, instead of waiting for a notice from the education commission,” said Yu.

　　Yu said students play football between 7am and 8:15am and reach the ground early. Teachers and parents generally check the AQI index every morning before heading to the ground. “No one showed up today,” she said.

　　In Yifu Primary School in Xuhui District, the morning exercises and other outdoor activities were moved into the classrooms and air purifiers turned on, the school principal Li Chuan said.

　　When the westerly winds headed eastwards, it brought in fresh air from the ocean.

　　The shift helped to bring down the AQI sharply at 10am, offering some respite in the afternoon, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau said.

　　By 6pm, the AQI dropped to 63, while the PM2.5 density plunged to 40 micrograms.

　　Some experts have also linked the recent pollution to straw burning in the neighboring countries. Earlier this year Shanghai banned straw burning. Aerial inspections are carried out regularly by choppers to look for violators.

　　Wu Rui, a chief service officer at the bureau, said due to heavy smog in northern China and the seasonal high pressure, the weather will remain stable, which makes it easier to form a smog.

　　So while the coming few days the air quality will be better, the chances of polluted air making a return remains.

　　It is expected to be sunny and cloudy today with a bit of warmth in the air. The sunny weather will continue into the weekend, followed by a dry and cloudy start next week.

　　The temperatures from today till Monday will mainly fluctuate between a low of 17 degrees Celsius and a high of 26 degrees.