SHANGHAI -- Shanghai residents this summer have been increasingly used to getting stuck in torrential downpours. They have been placing dehumidifiers in their homes and double checking they have umbrellas and face masks every time they go out, as the longest rainy season since the beginning of this century lingers on.

Shanghai, part of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, enters its rainy season in June every year. Called "plum rain" in Chinese, the rainy season features several weeks of wet days and high temperatures.

The latest data from the Shanghai meteorological authorities showed that this year's rainy season has lasted for over 33 days since June 9, setting the record for the longest "plum rain season" in the recent two decades.

Doctors said it is important to maintain mental health during the period, as people easily feel irritable or suffer from insomnia and anxiety, with wet weather continuing and masks still required in many places for epidemic prevention.